Smoking is the main known cause of bladder cancer.

We also know that some chemicals can help to cause this cancer (but they are less of a risk than smoking). You may be more at risk if you have worked in certain industries.

Many dangerous chemicals are now banned from the workplace, or their use is strictly controlled, but you may have worked with them many years ago, and bladder cancer can take a long time to develop.

You can get bladder cancer when cancer-causing substances get into your body, then into your urine, and stay in contact with the bladder wall over a long period of time. These substances are found in cigarette smoke and in some industrial chemicals.