Is bladder cancer common in young non-smokers?

No: Young people are less likely to have bladder cancer. Smokers are more likely to have associated bladder cancer compared to the age/gender matched non smokers. Being young and a non smoker is protective. It is unclear what role second hand smoke has on bladder cancer occurrence.

No: There is a concept of dose-response which means that a cumulative dose of carcinogens (from cigarette smoke in this example) can lead to tumor development. Consequently, the risk increases with time of exposure. Thus, older persons will carry a higher risk of cancer in this example, although occasionally relatively young patients may develop cancer of the bladder.