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Bladder cancer
Research into risks of exposure to harmful chemicals
According to the Cancer Research UK website, every year, over 350,000 people around the world are diagnosed with bladder cancer, over 10,000 of those in the UK.
Exposure to many chemicals is known to cause various cancers. Whilst there are other causes, and several types of bladder cancer, research into the cause has identified that exposure to certain chemicals can be directly linked to its development.
Please select the links below for more information and to see how Clear Answers could help you win compensation for your injury.
- Multiple risks of developing bladder cancer
- Chemicals known to increase risk of bladder cancer
- Development of bladder cancer
- Negligent exposure to carcinogenic chemicals
- Symptoms of bladder cancer and treatment
- Making a compensation claim for bladder cancer
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Multiple risks of developing bladder cancer
Smoking, including passive or second-hand smoke, can increase the risk of developing bladder cancer by up to four times compared to non-smokers. If you are a smoker, exposure to certain chemicals can multiply those risks.
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Chemicals known to increase risk of bladder cancer
Research is still continuing, but there are several chemicals which are known to increase the risk, many of them used in manufacturing industries such as:
- Chemical manufacturing and processing
- Distribution
- Dyes
- Gasworks
- Leather treatments
- Petroleum
- Plastics
- Printing
- Rubber
- Tyres
Within those industries, occupations that are exposed to these types of chemicals, and therefore most at risk from developing bladder cancer include:
- chemical plant operatives
- leather workers
- metal casters
- miners
- mechanics
- machine setters and operators
- painters & decorators
- print industry operatives who work with ‘carbon black’ (a substances used to make inks, dyes and other pigments)
- workers using adhesives in the tyre making industry
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Development of bladder cancer
The kidneys are designed to filter out chemicals in the body. Bladder carcinogenic chemicals, including those in cigarette smoke, travel through the bloodstream and after being filtered by our kidneys, end up in the urine in the bladder. A tumour can then develop as a result of the carcinogenic chemical causing an adverse change at the genetic level in the bladder.
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Negligent exposure to carcinogenic chemicals
Although you may have been exposed to carcinogenic chemicals many years ago, bladder cancer from exposure to harmful chemicals can take 25 years or more to develop. These included many chemicals which were banned in the UK in the 1990’s:
- Azo dyes
- Amines
- Polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) or
- Arylamines such as
- Aniline dyes
- 2-Naphthylamine
- 4-Aminobiphenyl
- Xenylamine or
- Benzidin
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Symptoms of bladder cancer and treatment
If you are suffering from one or more of the symptoms below, you should visit your GP so that tests can be carried out to identify your condition. These symptoms are also associated with less serious conditions than bladder cancer, such as kidney infections and urinary tract infections (UTI’s), so it is important to get an early diagnosis if you have any concerns.
- A burning pain when urinating
- Needing to urinate frequently
- Traces of blood in the urine
If you are diagnosed with bladder cancer, you may be offered a variety tests that will assess the extent to which the cancer has spread within the bladder or other parts of your body. These may include a physical exam and review of your medical history, followed by other tests such as a bone scan (which requires a very small amount of radioactive material to be injected into the bloodstream), a CT Scan (sometimes referred to as CAT scan), a chest X-ray, or an MRI scan (Magnetic resonance imaging).
The results of these tests will determine the appropriate treatment for you. For more information on symptoms, exploratory tests and possible treatments, visit the Cancer Research UK website to read the research.
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Making a compensation claim for bladder cancer
Clear Answers’ solicitors has a dedicated team of personal injury lawyers specialising in industrial diseases, who are able to offer expert claim advice. They have huge experience of work-related disease claims and will be happy to answer any questions you may have in plain English.
You will receive 100% of the compensation awarded. If you do have a valid personal injury compensation claim and you decide to instruct Clear Answers to deal with the matter for you, we will recover our legal fees from the person responsible for your injury, ensuring that the entire procedure is cost-free for you.
If you or your family have been affected by an industrial disease or negligent exposure to harmful chemicals, and would like some advice about how to make a personal injury compensation claim contact Clear Answers' solicitors on 0800 783 9019 or complete one of our online compensation claim forms, and one of our representatives will contact you as soon as possible.
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