Cigarette smoking has been strongly linked to ailments such as heart disease, lung cancer, and other respiratory and circulatory diseases. However, there are several other cancers that can be developed because of cigarette smoking such as bladder cancer. Bladder cancer affects about 53,000 thousand individuals across the United States and smokers are twice more likely to get lung cancer than non-smokers.



Cigarette smoke contains more than 4,000 chemicals, 60 of which are highly carcinogenic. Smoking means exposing oneself to chemicals like hydrogen cyanide, butane, nicotine, carbolic acid, ammonia, and other harmful chemicals. As these substances are inhaled, they are absorbed into the lungs and eventually into the bloodstream. The blood then gets filtered by the kidneys and is incorporated in the urine. These carcinogens damage the urothelial cells that line the bladder walls and cause the development of tumors.

In some cases, bladder cancer often causes no symptoms until it has reached an advanced cure that may be difficult to cure. Noticeable symptoms of bladder cancer are non-specific, which means that these conditions may be linked to other health conditions other than cancer. Some of the symptoms of bladder cancer include the following:

Presence of blood in the urine;

Pain or burning sensation during urination without the occurrence of urinary tract infection (UTI); and

Urinating more often or feeling the strong urge to urinate without producing much urine.

Because of modern technology and advanced medicine, treatments for bladder cancer are now widely available. Treatment depends on the stage of the disease, the type of cancer, and the patient's overall health. Surgery, chemotherapy, radiation, and immunotherapy are some of the common methods performed to treat this kind of cancer. However these treatments may produce a number of side effects that may affect one's sexual health. These treatments may cause certain signs and symptoms that may make sexual intimacy with one's partner more difficult. But this does not mean that a healthy sex life after cancer treatment cannot be achieved. Doctors should be consulted for possible remedies for these conditions.

Some sexual health problems that may be caused by cancer treatment may include the following:

Inability to achieve or maintain an erection (erectile dysfunction)

Difficulty climaxing

Orgasm without discharge of semen (dry orgasm)

Weaker, less satisfying orgasms

Loss of libido

Pain during sex

The development of different kinds of cancers that are linked to cigarette smoking have made the need to quit smoking more important. Despite the availability of many methods for cancer, people can drastically lessen the risks of developing bladder cancer by quitting cigarette smoking --- a goal that might be easier said than done for certain individuals. These individuals may use various quit smoking products like nicotine gums, patches, and others that are out in the market. These products are scientifically proven to aid individuals who want to quit smoking. These products work by temporarily supplying the body with nicotine through means other than cigarettes. This helps calm physical withdrawal symptoms of cigarette smoking. Using these products and coupling them with the right attitude a sure formula for the prevention of bladder cancer and improve one's overall health and well-being.