It is not possible to say what causes kidney cancer in a single person. We do know there are some features that are more common in people who develop kidney cancer. These features are called ‘risk factors’.
But It is usually hard to be sure whether a risk factor contributed to the development of the cancer in a person. And having one or more risk factors for kidney cancer does not mean that someone will develop kidney cancer. In fact, many people with kidney cancer have no obvious risk factors.
Risk factors for kidney cancer that can be changed:
- smoking
- being overweight
- high blood pressure
- using too much of certain types of medicines for pain over a long period of time.
Risk factors for kidney cancer that can’t be changed:
- genetic conditions, such as von Hippel-Lindau disease, hereditary renal cell cancer etc.
- family history of bowel cancer
- exposure to certain chemicals
- advanced kidney disease, especially where dialysis is required
- sex of the patient. Renal cell cancer is twice as common in men than in women.
If you have any of these risk factors or you’re worried about your risk for kidney cancer, yarn with your doctor, nurse, Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander health worker.