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It has long been known that for each different type
of cancer there are distinct risk factors. These factors do not
assure that an individual will have cancer, but increase the chances
of developing the cancer. The mechanism by which the majority of
these risk factors result in cancer is not always known, but epidemiological
studies do allow physicians to identify factors which are associated
with each different type of cancer.
There are several diseases which run in families (are
inherited from parents to children) which are associated with kidney
cancer. Each of these diseases also has other problems, aside from
the kidney cancers, which develop. Some of the risk factors and familial diseases
that are associated with kidney cancer are listed below.
- Gender– Men are almost twice
as likely as women to develop kidney cancer.
- Familial Diseases Associated with Kidney
Cancer – Most Kidney cancers are not associated
with familial diseases (diseases that run in families), but rather
are spontaneous events that occur in the individual patient. However,
there are several recognized diseases which are inherited and
result in an increased incidence of kidney cancers.
- Von Hippel-Lindau disease – This inherited
disorder is associated with several kinds of tumors around the
body including the kidney cancer type known as conventional
carcinoma or clear cell carcinoma.
- Hereditary papillary renal cell carcinoma –
People with this disorder have an increased probability of developing
one, or even more commonly, multiple kidney cancers of the papillary
type. Patients with hereditary papillary renal cell carcinoma
are not likely to develop other diseases as is typical with
Von Hippel-Lindau disease.
- Birt-Hogg-Dube Syndrome – People with this
disorder have tumors of different types including benign skin
tumors, lung problems, and are at increased risk of developing
kidney cancer.
- Tuberous Sclerosis – This inherited disorder
can be associated with multiple abnormalities, which include
kidney tumors. These tumors are typically a type known as angiomyolipomas
which are benign kidney growths and therefore not kidney cancer.
- Occupational / Chemical exposures
– The link between exposure to chemicals in the workplace
and cancers was identified over 100 years ago. The risk of kidney
cancer is known to be increased in steel plant workers with exposure
to coal ovens. Additionally, exposure to some workplace solvents,
asbestors, and some forms of cadmium has been demonstrated to
increase the risk of kidney cancer.
- Cigarette smoking – Cigarette
smoking has been associated with many cancers as well as many
other adverse effects, and has been identified as being a major
risk factor for kidney cancer. Cigarette smokers are twice as
likely as non-smokers to be diagnosed with kidney cancer.
- Obesity – Recent evidence
suggests that people who are obese have a higher likelihood of
developing kidney cancer.
- High blood pressure – High
blood pressure has long been known to be associated with many
systemic diseases such as heart disease, deterioration of kidney
function, and stroke. More recently, an association between high
blood pressure and kidney cancer has been established.
- High fat diet – The link
between a high fat diet and several cancers has been established.
A high fat diet is associated with an increased risk of kidney
cancer.
- Dialysis – People who have
been on dialysis over long periods of time have an increased risk
of developing kidney cancer. It is unknown why dialysis increases
the risk of kidney cancer, but it may be the result of immunosuppression,
the kidney disease that resulted in the kidney failure, or a combination
of factors.
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