Rank your risk

We get letters every day from readers worried about cancer -- how to prevent it, and how to cure it. But what we don't see a lot of are letters asking how to recognize whether or not someone is truly at risk. This is where you should really start. After all, worrying about something that isn't likely to happen to you just puts you at risk for other problems brought on by elevated stress levels.

Of course, there are dozens of types of cancer and while some risk factors -- like smoking and obesity -- carry over between them, they all have unique factors to be aware of.

So today I thought we'd go over the risk factors for one of the types of cancer that isn't generally at the top of people's lists: bladder cancer.

As with most types of the disease, smoking definitely increases your risk. But here are some of the lesser-known factors: Working with chemicals, especially the ones used in dyes, printing inks, and paints.

Being Caucasian: Whites have twice the risk of contracting the disease as African Americans or Hispanics

A history of bladder-related illness such as kidney stones and bladder infection.

Nutrition & Healing Sources:
"Health Tip: Risk Factors for Bladder Cancer," MedicineNet.com (www.MedicineNet.com), accessed 5/8/07

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