May is observed globally as Bladder Cancer Awareness Month, and May 31 marks World No Tobacco Day. Smoking is known to be one of the leading risk factors for bladder cancer. Reflecting this, the Korean Urological Oncology Society has designated the last week of May as Bladder Cancer Awareness Week and released key prevention guidelines.
Bladder cancer ranks 10th among male cancers in Korea… Smoking increases risk up to tenfold
According to the Korean Urological Oncology Society, the bladder is an organ that stores urine produced by the kidneys. It is made of highly elastic muscle tissue and resembles a thin balloon in shape. Bladder cancer is a malignant tumor that occurs in the bladder and is the 10th most common cancer worldwide.
According to the 2022 National Cancer Registration Statistics released in 2024 by South Korea’s Ministry of Health and Welfare, Korea Central Cancer Registry, and the National Cancer Center, bladder cancer ranked 10th among male cancers in Korea, with 4,197 new cases. In 2021, 5,169 new cases were reported—an increase of 45% compared to 3,553 cases in 2010. Notably, about 8 out of 10 bladder cancer patients in Korea are aged 60 or older.
Experts especially cite smoking as a major contributor to bladder cancer. Dr. Yang Seung Cheol, a urology specialist at Gangnam Bedro Hospital, explained that cigarette smoke contains various carcinogens such as naphthylamine and benzene. These substances are absorbed into the bloodstream, filtered through the kidneys, and excreted via urine into the bladder. When urine containing these carcinogens remains in the bladder for extended periods, it can lead to cancer development.
Dr. Yang added that most of the patients he encounters are current or former smokers, and research shows that smokers are 2 to 10 times more likely to develop bladder cancer compared to non-smokers.
Painless blood in urine is a key warning sign… Adults over 40 should get regular screenings
To address the growing threat of bladder cancer in Korea, the Korean Urological Oncology Society introduced five key prevention guidelines: quit smoking if you are a smoker, follow workplace safety protocols if exposed to chemicals on the job, maintain a balanced diet rich in fruits and vegetables, drink around 2 liters of water daily, and adults over 40 should undergo regular urine tests to check for microscopic hematuria.
Experts emphasize that if painless blood in urine, one of the most common early symptoms of bladder cancer, appears, individuals should promptly visit a urologist for an accurate diagnosis.
Dr. Yang noted that conditions like kidney stones or infections often cause intense pain despite posing lower cancer risks, while painless hematuria can appear briefly for two to three days and then disappear, causing many to dismiss it. This often leads to missed opportunities for early detection.
According to society, hematuria is classified into visible hematuria—blood in urine that can be seen with the naked eye—and microscopic hematuria, which is not visible but detectable through testing. Around 85% of bladder cancer patients experience hematuria, and the presence of visible blood in urine is linked to a higher probability of bladder cancer.
Professor Kim Sun Il, president of the Korean Urological Oncology Society and a urology professor at Ajou University Hospital, emphasized that since age is a significant risk factor, even adults over 40 without visible hematuria should undergo regular urine screenings to detect microscopic blood.
He added that if bladder cancer is detected early, the survival rate exceeds 85%, but if it is found after spreading to other organs, the survival rate drops drastically to around 11%. Therefore, if any blood is found in the urine, visiting a nearby urology clinic for examination is essential.
