Risk Factors
A risk factor is any characteristic, behavior, or condition that increases your chances of developing a disease. Here are some known risk factors for developing kidney cancer:
Smoking
People who smoke tobacco are at higher risk for kidney cancer.
Age
Most cases of kidney cancer occur in people over the age of 50.
Gender
Men are twice as likely to develop kidney cancer as women.
High blood pressure
People with high blood pressure are at higher risk for kidney cancer.
Obesity
Extremely overweight people are at higher risk for kidney cancer.
Family History
Close relatives (especially a brother or sister) of a person with kidney cancer are at higher risk for the disease.
Race
African Americans have a slightly greater risk for developing kidney cancer than people of other races.
Occupational Exposures
Exposure to certain chemicals including asbestos, cadmium, benzene, and trichloroethylene increases the risk of kidney cancer.
Genetics
Certain inherited conditions greatly increase the risk of kidney cancer. These conditions include von Hippel-Lindau syndrome, hereditary papillary renal cell carcinoma, Birt-Hogg-Dube syndrome, and hereditary leiomyomatosis and renal cell cancer (HLRCC).
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Dialysis
People with advanced kidney disease on long-term dialysis are more likely to get kidney cancer.
