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Bad bladder: Another reason not to smoke

Three examples of proposed warnings for cigarette packaging as part of the government’s new tobacco prevention efforts are shown Wednesday in Washington. (Associated Press)
Three examples of proposed warnings for cigarette packaging as part of the government’s new tobacco prevention efforts are shown Wednesday in Washington. (Associated Press)

The National Institutes of Health released a report today showing that half of the cases of bladder cancer, in both men and women, can be attributed to smoking.

It used to be just 30 percent for women but "the researchers estimated that smoking is responsible for about half of female bladder cancer cases—similar to the proportion found in men in this and previous studies. The increase in the proportion of smoking-attributable bladder cancer cases among women is likely explained by the greater prevalence of smoking among women."

About 15,000 people will die of bladder cancer in 2011, the report said. This is a cancer that can be prevented, in half the cases simply by not smoking.

(AP file photo) 

Spokesman-Review features writer Rebecca Nappi, along with writer Catherine Johnston of Olympia, Wash., discuss here issues facing aging boomers, seniors and those experiencing serious illness, dying, death and other forms of loss.