Bladder cancer - European Society for Medical Oncology

Other factors have been suspected to be associated with an increased risk of bladder cancer, but the
evidence is inconsistent:
‐ Coffee, artificial sweeteners and alcohol: there is no clear evidence that consumption of
these substances produces a risk for developing bladder cancer.
‐ Tap water with high levels of trihalomethanes, which are the broken down products of the
disinfectant chlorine: some studies show that prolonged ingestion of this kind of tap water
may increase the risk for bladder cancer, but the evidence is inconsistent.
‐ Genes: overall, having a family member with bladder cancer conveys a slightly increased risk
of developing the disease. Bladder cancer as a result of an inheritable faulty gene* is very
rare.
‐ One study has shown that being overweight is associated with a higher risk of bladder
cancer, but other studies do not confirm this.
Some factors have been proposed to protect against the development of bladder cancer, but clear
evidence for this is not available.
‐ Fluid intake: it has been proposed that high fluid intake may reduce the risk of developing
bladder cancer in men, but inconsistencies exist between studies.
‐ Fruit and vegetables: consumption of fruit and vegetables is said to have a protective effect.
Bladder cancer: a guide for patients‐ Information based on ESMO Clinical Practice Guidelines ‐v.2012.1 Page 6
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