According to latest research, the risk of bladder cancer increases manifold in people who smoke. While it was known that smoking does increase the risk of cancer, the new reports say that the actual risk of cancer is several times more than that reported in the previous study. The study that was reported on the 17th of August suggested that contrary to the previous report, the risk of bladder cancer due to smoking increases not thrice but four times over.  Smoking is considered as the most common reason for bladder cancer. For the previous study, about 500,000 people were considered. When compared to the world statistics of 350,000 with bladder cancer every year, United States registered 70,000 cases every year. The cancer affects both the genders of people who smoke. 

The present study, which has been carried out by the National Cancer Institute, Rockville Department of Health and Human Services, under the leadership of Neal D. Freedman considered 186,134 women and 281,394 men. The research was considered for the duration between 1995 October and 2006 December. Lifestyle questionnaires were given out and result were analyzed.

According to experts, the increase in the risk of bladder cancer due to smoking could have been because of the changes in the composition of cigarettes and changes in the lifestyle of people, which has become more sedentary now when compared to half a century ago. Specific chemicals have increased in cigarettes and are causing more harm to the bladder. Beta-naphthylamine, which was present in lower concentrations before has been increased.

This carcinogen directly affects the bladder and causes an increase in the risk of cancer. In the years that were the follow-up period for the study, it was found that 627 women and 3896 men had contracted the disease, all of them being smokers. The study concluded that the risk of cancer in smokers has increased by four times when compared to the previous study results that showed an increase of 2.94 times, which is a significant increase. In non smokers, the increase in the risk is 2.2 times. On the whole the risk of cancer has increased by 52% in women and 50% in men. This result is also in contrast to the previous study that said that men and women were equally affected by the cancer. Spreading awareness about the increased risk of bladder cancer due to smoking is one of the major steps that have to be taken.