Smoking can also affect the bladder
The link between smoking and bladder cancer is still not widely recognised by the general public. While the harmful effects of smoking on the lungs and cardiovascular system are well known, many people are unaware that smoking is also the leading preventable risk factor for bladder cancer.
In fact, bladder cancer is one of the cancers most strongly linked to tobacco use. People who smoke are between two and four times more likely to develop bladder cancer than those who have never smoked. Giving up smoking not only protects your lungs and heart but also helps reduce your risk of developing this disease.
When a person smokes, the carcinogenic substances in tobacco smoke enter the bloodstream and are processed by the body. Many of these substances are then eliminated through the urine. As a result, the lining of the bladder is repeatedly exposed to potentially carcinogenic chemicals which, over time, can damage the DNA of bladder cells and increase the risk of developing a urological cancer such as bladder cancer.
Bladder cancer: a disease that often develops silently
Bladder cancer is one of the most common cancers affecting the urinary tract.
Despite advances in diagnosis and treatment, the disease still has a high rate of recurrence, meaning that many patients require regular follow-up for years.
One of the most important factors in improving outcomes is detecting bladder cancer at an early stage. When the disease is diagnosed early, treatment is often more effective and patients are more likely to achieve better clinical outcomes.
Current bladder cancer research is focused on finding new ways to detect the disease earlier, better understand the characteristics of each tumour, and develop treatments tailored to each individual patient.
A urine sample to detect bladder cancer earlier
To improve the diagnosis of this disease, the Uro-Oncology Unit at Clínic-IDIBAPS is leading the VIGIA project, a research study investigating whether early signs of bladder cancer can be detected using a simple urine sample. This approach could help identify people at high risk without the need for invasive procedures or exposure to radiation.
The study is aimed at current and former smokers aged over 50, a group at particularly high risk of developing this type of cancer. The study analyses biomarkers in urine that may help identify changes associated with bladder cancer at a very early stage.
The project’s lead researchers, Dr Maria Jose Ribal and Dr Antoni Vilaseca, highlight several potential advantages of this approach:
- It uses a urine sample, which is easy to collect.
- It does not involve exposure to radiation.
- It avoids invasive procedures.
- It could help detect the disease before clear clinical signs appear.
Studies like this are particularly important because they may help identify the disease at a stage when it is still treatable, before serious complications develop.
Would you like to take part in the VIGIA project?
Early detection: a powerful tool in the future of medicine
Early detection remains one of the most powerful tools in the fight against cancer. Projects such as VIGIA are exploring new ways to diagnose bladder cancer that are simpler, more accessible and more convenient for patients. Perhaps, in the not-too-distant future, a simple urine sample could help save lives by detecting bladder cancer at an earlier stage, enabling patients to receive the right treatment as soon as possible.
INFORMATION DOCUMENTED BY:
Dr Maria José Ribal, Head of the Urological Oncology Unit at Hospital Clínic Barcelona.
