Like cigarettes, smokeless tobacco is a risk factor for several types of cancer, including bladder cancer.

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You might think chewing tobacco is a less harmful alternative to cigarettes because it exposes users to fewer toxic chemicals. But chewing tobacco, also known as smokeless tobacco or snuff, still poses serious health risks.

One complication associated with chewing tobacco is an increased risk of several types of cancer, including bladder cancer. It’s the sixth most common type of cancer diagnosed in the United States.

If a doctor diagnoses bladder cancer in its early stages, having surgery to remove the tumor is among the most common treatments.

Quitting smokeless tobacco can be challenging, but a variety of products and programs can help those with a nicotine addiction.

A 2019 study compared the cancer risks and cancer-related deaths associated with cigarettes, chewing tobacco, cigars, and pipes.

The findings suggest that daily use of smokeless tobacco is associated with a higher overall mortality rate and increased risks of bladder cancer and cancer of the oral cavity.

The toxic chemicals in chewing tobacco are what make it such a hazardous product. The National Cancer Institute reports that smokeless tobacco contains at least 28 different chemicals known to cause cancer.

Among the most dangerous chemicals are tobacco-specific nitrosamines. These are formed during the growing and processing of tobacco.

In addition to an increased risk of cancer, chewing tobacco is associated with the following health risks:

A 2019 study suggests that the mortality risks of chewing tobacco are significantly lower than those of smoking tobacco.

However, the American Lung Association notes that chewing tobacco is associated with numerous health risks, so we shouldn’t view it as a healthier alternative to cigarettes.

If you develop bladder cancer, the 5-year survival rate is about 97% if you start treatment when cancer cells are confined to the lining of the bladder. The rate is only 8% if the cancer spreads beyond the bladder to a distant organ in the body.

Just as quitting smoking can be physically and psychologically difficult for many people, the same is true for kicking the chewing tobacco habit. But there are ways to move on from smokeless tobacco and lower your risk of cancer and other health problems.

Nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) means you can have nicotine — in the form of lozenges, gum, patches, or other products — but without the harmful chemicals of smokeless tobacco and cigars. It’s more widely used for quitting smoking, but trying NRT lozenges may help.

Most products are available without a prescription, but it’s important to not use any chewing tobacco or other tobacco products while on NRT.

Prescription medications to help you quit smoking, such as varenicline (Chantix) and bupropion (Zyban), may also be effective for quitting smokeless tobacco. Be sure to talk with your doctor about the risks and benefits of these medications.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services provides other strategies and resources to help people quit tobacco. You may also try the National Cancer Institute’s Smoking Quitline at 877-448-7848, which includes counseling services for individuals looking to quit chewing tobacco, too.

Can chewing tobacco affect your bladder?

The toxins in tobacco, both smokeless and smoked products, can enter the lining of the bladder, as well as the stomach, pancreas, and throat. This increases the risk of cancerous tumors forming in those locations.

What type of cancer can chewing tobacco cause?

In addition to bladder cancer, the types of cancer most commonly associated with chewing tobacco are cancers of the esophagus, pancreas, and oral cavity.

What is the main cause of bladder cancer?

Some of the leading causes of bladder cancer are smoking, exposure to arsenic — present in high levels in some drinking water supplies — and exposure to certain industrial chemicals called aromatic amines.

Using chewing tobacco and other smokeless tobacco products can lead to bladder cancer, other types of cancer, and other serious health risks.

If you chew tobacco, seek help in quitting. If you’ve tried before, talk with your healthcare professional or seek other tobacco-cessation resources to help you on your journey.