Studies have shown that certain lifestyle factors can increase the risk of developing kidney tumors. Smoking, having high blood pressure, eating a high-fat diet, and being overweight all may contribute to an increased risk of kidney cancer.
Although we do not know all the causes of kidney cancer, the following factors can also increase the risk of developing this disease:
- long-term dialysis, a process in which a machine filters the blood of a person without functioning kidneys
- exposure to asbestos, such as occupational exposure
- exposure to cadmium, a metal that can increase the cancer-causing effect of smoking
- a family history of kidney cancer
- von Hippel-Lindau disease, a syndrome caused by a genetic mutation that leads to multiple tumors in the kidney, often at an early age
- tuberous sclerosis, a disease characterized by several bumps on the skin, seizures, mental retardation, and cysts in the kidneys, liver, and pancreas
If you are exposed to asbestos or cadmium at work, be sure to follow occupational safety practices that limit your exposure.
