Kidney Cancer Risk Factors

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Kidney Cancer Risk Factors

Typically, kidney cancer most often develops in people over 40 years of age. And doctors can seldom determine why one person developed kidney cancer and others did not. For instance, I was diagnosed at age 37 and statistically, my odds of getting kidney cancer were less than 3%, given my age and overall health. As for all cancers kidney cancer is not contagious.

But research has proven that some people with certain risk factors are more likely than others to develop the disease. So like as for lung cancer or mesothelioma, we do know that smokers expose themselves to a significantly higher risk, however, not everybody who smokes develops lung cancer necessarily.

The following risk factors are associated with kidney cancer: 

Smoking: Cigarette smoking is the most definitely proven risk factor. Smokers are twice as likely to     develop kidney cancer as non smokers.

 

Obesity: Overweighed and obese people are at a higher risk of developing kidney cancer

 

High Blood Pressure: This risk factor is associated with many other diseases and can be also directly linked to an increased risk of getting kidney cancer.

 

Occupation: Because of exposure to chemical and toxic substances at their workplace, some people are at higher risk. Especially those who come in regular contact with asbestos or cadmium are more likely to develop kidney cancer at some point.

 

Gender: Men are almost 50% more likely to get kidney cancer than women in the USA.

 

These are the most commonly known risk factors. There are a number of others, including Long Term Dialysis and a few genetical diseases like VHL-syndrome (Von Hippel-Lindau Syndrom).