A study looking at risk factors for bladder cancer coming back (Bladder Cancer Prognosis Programme, BCPP)

The researchers found that people who smoked were diagnosed with bladder cancer on average 4 years younger than those who had never smoked. In this study, the smokers also had larger tumours. And their tumours were of a higher grade, which means they could be more likely to spread.

The study recruited 1,168 people who had been diagnosed with bladder cancer at a number of hospitals in the West Midlands.

The people taking part gave samples of tissue removed when they had surgery. They were also asked questions about

• Their diet
• Whether they smoke or not (or had smoked in the past)
• The amount they drink
• Their work and home environment
• Their medical history
• Their family history
• Any medication they take (such as painkillers)

The research team then gathered information about their diagnosis and treatment from their medical notes.

There are several parts to the study looking to see if different lifestyle factors affect bladder cancer diagnosis and whether or not it comes back after treatment.

The study team had information about smoking from 1,067 of the people who took part. This showed that smoking can affect the age bladder cancer is diagnosed, the size of the tumour and how likely it is to spread. But we need more research to look at the links between smoking and the outlook (prognosis) for people diagnosed with bladder cancer.

These are only early results from this study. In the future, the researchers will make more results available showing what else they find about the other lifestyle factors and if they affect whether bladder cancer comes back after treatment.

We have based this summary on information from the team who ran the trial. The information they sent us has been reviewed by independent specialists (peer reviewed ) and published in a medical journal. The figures we quote above were provided by the trial team. We have not analysed the data ourselves.