The main risk factors for bladder cancer include:

• Smoking. Smokers are twice as likely to get bladder cancer as nonsmokers.¹
• Chemical exposure. Bladder cancer has been linked to chemicals called aromatic amines. These chemicals are found in many products, including dyes, paints, solvents, inks, and the dust from leather. This risk may also depend on how much and how often a person was exposed to these chemicals.
• Being older. Your risk goes up as you get older. Most people who get bladder cancer are close to their 70s.
• Being a white male. Men are 4 times more likely to get bladder cancer than women. And white men are twice as likely to get it as African-American men.¹
• A diet that is high in nitrates or rich in meat and fatty foods.
• Schistosomiasis, which is an infection caused by a parasite. It's sometimes found in developing countries and rarely occurs in North America.