Early menopause in smokers raises bladder cancer risk

Experiencing menopause before the age of 45 is associated with a higher risk of bladder cancer particularly among smokers, says a new study.

Women who entered menopause before the age of 45 were 45 per cent more likely to have bladder cancer than those who had menopause after 50.

However, if these women had smoked, the risk of bladder cancer was 53 per cent greater than women who had menopause later, the researchers said.

"We found that smoking women who experienced menopause before they were 45 years old had a greater risk of bladder cancer. Smoking remains the most important risk factor for bladder cancer," said lead researcher Mohammad Abufaraj at the University of Vienna.

The study will be presented at the European Association of Urology congress in Barcelona.

Besides smoking as the underlying reason for the increased incidence of bladder cancer, other factors such as hormonal changes also leads to an earlier menopause, said Arnulf Stenzl, Chairman at the EAU Scientific Congress Committee. Readmore