Kidney Cancer Risk Factors
The exact cause of renal cell cancer is unknown. However, there are certain risk factors that increase the likelihood of the disease. These risk factors, according to the American Cancer Society, are as follows:
- smoking
Smoking increases the risk of kidney cancer. The risk seems related to the amount you smoke. - asbestos
Studies show a link between exposure to asbestos and kidney cancer. - cadmium
There may be a link between cadmium exposure and kidney cancer. Cadmium may increase the cancer-causing effect of smoking. - family history
Family history of kidney cancer increases a person's risk. - gender
Men are twice as likely to develop renal cell cancer than women. - von Hippel-Lindau syndrome
This is a disease caused by a gene mutation that increases the chances of renal cell cancer. - Birt-Hogg-Dubé syndrome
Patients who have this disease are more likely to develop renal cell cancer. - obesity
Obesity increases a person's risk of kidney cancer. - long-term dialysis
Patients who have been on dialysis for a long time may develop kidney cysts, which may be one cause of renal cell cancer. - high blood pressure
Patients who have high blood pressure have a higher risk for kidney cancer. - diuretics (water pills)
Drugs that eliminate excess body fluid may raise the risk of kidney cancer, although this is not clear. - race
African Americans have a slightly higher risk of kidney cancer.
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