WHO'S AT RISK?
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However, we do know that people with certain risk factors may be more likely than others to develop kidney cancer.There are certain things that can affect the chances of developing kidney cancer. These are called risk factors.
A number of environmental, hormonal, cellular, and genetic factors have been studied as possible causal factors in the development of kidney cancer. Factors that can increase the risk of kidney cancer include:
Older age:
Your risk of kidney cancer increases as you age
Being male:
Men are more likely to develop kidney cancer.
Being black:
The risk in blacks is slightly higher than in whites. No one knows why.
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Smoking:
Cigarette smoking is a major risk factor. Smokers have a greater risk of kidney cancer than non smokers do. Cigar smoking also may increase the risk of this disease.But your risk falls if you stop smoking and after 10 years is the same as a non smoker.
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Obesity:
People who are obese have a higher risk of kidney cancer than do people who are considered average weight.
Research has found that there is a strong link between someone’s Body Mass IndexBMI (BMI) and their risk of developing kidney cancer.A BMI score of 25 or above has been shown to increase the chances of developing kidney cancer.A BMI score of 30 or above has been shown to signficantly increase the chances of developing kidney cancer.Read more about BMI _click here
This may be because overweight or obese people, particularly women, have higher levels of a hormone called oestrogen in their body. It is thought that excess levels of oestrogen may stimulate the growth of cancerous cells.Cases of kidney cancer have been increasing over the last 40 years, which has been linked to rising obesity levels.
High blood pressure (hypertension):
High blood pressure increases your risk of kidney cancer.
People who are obese have a higher risk of kidney cancer than do people who are considered average weight.
Research has found that there is a strong link between someone’s Body Mass IndexBMI (BMI) and their risk of developing kidney cancer.A BMI score of 25 or above has been shown to increase the chances of developing kidney cancer.A BMI score of 30 or above has been shown to signficantly increase the chances of developing kidney cancer.Read more about BMI _click here
This may be because overweight or obese people, particularly women, have higher levels of a hormone called oestrogen in their body. It is thought that excess levels of oestrogen may stimulate the growth of cancerous cells.Cases of kidney cancer have been increasing over the last 40 years, which has been linked to rising obesity levels.
High blood pressure (hypertension):
High blood pressure increases your risk of kidney cancer.
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Alcohol:
The risk of kidney cancer is slightly lower in people who drink alcohol compared to non drinkers. But alcohol increases the risk of several other types of cancer.
Thyroid cancer:
People who have had thyroid cancer have a risk of kidney cancer that is 2 to 7 times higher than people who have not had thyroid cancer. It may be due to gene changes that are common to both cancers.
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Chemicals in your workplace:
Workers who are exposed to certain chemicals on the job may have a higher risk of kidney cancer. Some evidence suggests people who work with chemicals such as asbestos,lead and cadmium may have an increased risk of kidney cancer.An increased risk of kidney cancer has been linked to working with blast furnaces or coke ovens in the steel and coal industries. It has also been linked to working with Trichloroethylene (Tric), a petroleum by-product used in the heavy engineering industry.
Treatment for kidney failure:
People who receive long-term dialysis to treat chronic kidney failure have a greater risk of developing kidney cancer.
Workers who are exposed to certain chemicals on the job may have a higher risk of kidney cancer. Some evidence suggests people who work with chemicals such as asbestos,lead and cadmium may have an increased risk of kidney cancer.An increased risk of kidney cancer has been linked to working with blast furnaces or coke ovens in the steel and coal industries. It has also been linked to working with Trichloroethylene (Tric), a petroleum by-product used in the heavy engineering industry.
Treatment for kidney failure:
People who receive long-term dialysis to treat chronic kidney failure have a greater risk of developing kidney cancer.
Faulty genes and inherited conditions:
A small number of people inherit faulty genes that increase their risk of developing kidney cancer and other medical conditions. Changes in the DNA that makes up the faulty gene make the gene behave in an abnormal way. Cancers caused by these faulty genes are called hereditary or familial kidney cancer. Scientists are finding out which genes carry these mistakes in the DNA. In the future this could help doctors predict who is at risk of getting hereditary kidney cancer.
People with kidney cancer who have these genetic conditions often have cancer in both kidneys (bilateral kidney cancer). They may also have several tumours in each kidney. They often develop the cancer at a younger age than people with non inherited cancers.
The inherited conditions that increase the risk of kidney cancer include
Von Hippel-Lindau (VHL)syndrome is an inherited cancer syndrome. The VHL gene runs through affected families. People who carry the gene have an increased risk of developing several quite rare cancers in the brain, spine, pancreas, eyes and inner ear. About 40% of people with VHL get kidney cancer.
Tuberous sclerosis (TS) is another condition caused by a faulty gene.It is a disease characterized by small tumors of the blood vessels that results in numerous bumps on the skin, mental retardation, seizures, and cysts in the kidneys, liver, and pancreas. About 1 in 3 cases are inherited. But the other 2 out of 3 occur because the gene has mutated in those people for the first time. People with TS have an increased risk of kidney cysts and kidney cancer.
Birt-Hogg-Dube syndrome is another inherited condition. It causes many non cancerous (benign) tumours to develop in the hair follicles of the skin. These usually develop on the face, neck and trunk. People who carry this gene have an increased risk of kidney cancer.
Hereditary clear cell kidney cancer and hereditary papillary kidney cancers are both caused by inherited faulty genes. They are dominant genetic conditions. This means that you only have to inherit the faulty gene from one parent. Even so, they are both very rare.
A small number of people inherit faulty genes that increase their risk of developing kidney cancer and other medical conditions. Changes in the DNA that makes up the faulty gene make the gene behave in an abnormal way. Cancers caused by these faulty genes are called hereditary or familial kidney cancer. Scientists are finding out which genes carry these mistakes in the DNA. In the future this could help doctors predict who is at risk of getting hereditary kidney cancer.
People with kidney cancer who have these genetic conditions often have cancer in both kidneys (bilateral kidney cancer). They may also have several tumours in each kidney. They often develop the cancer at a younger age than people with non inherited cancers.
The inherited conditions that increase the risk of kidney cancer include
- Von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) syndrome
- Tuberous sclerosis
- Birt-Hogg-Dube syndrome
- Hereditary non VHL clear cell and papillary renal cell cancer
Von Hippel-Lindau (VHL)syndrome is an inherited cancer syndrome. The VHL gene runs through affected families. People who carry the gene have an increased risk of developing several quite rare cancers in the brain, spine, pancreas, eyes and inner ear. About 40% of people with VHL get kidney cancer.
Tuberous sclerosis (TS) is another condition caused by a faulty gene.It is a disease characterized by small tumors of the blood vessels that results in numerous bumps on the skin, mental retardation, seizures, and cysts in the kidneys, liver, and pancreas. About 1 in 3 cases are inherited. But the other 2 out of 3 occur because the gene has mutated in those people for the first time. People with TS have an increased risk of kidney cysts and kidney cancer.
Birt-Hogg-Dube syndrome is another inherited condition. It causes many non cancerous (benign) tumours to develop in the hair follicles of the skin. These usually develop on the face, neck and trunk. People who carry this gene have an increased risk of kidney cancer.
Hereditary clear cell kidney cancer and hereditary papillary kidney cancers are both caused by inherited faulty genes. They are dominant genetic conditions. This means that you only have to inherit the faulty gene from one parent. Even so, they are both very rare.
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Family history:
Studies have shown that people with a first degree relative diagnosed with kidney cancer have roughly double the risk of developing renal cell carcinoma themselves. A first degree relative is a parent, brother or sister, or your child.
Radiotherapy for cancer:
Men treated with radiotherapy for testicular cancer have double the risk of kidney cancer compared to men in the general population. But the risk is still small. The risk after radiotherapy for testicular cancer gradually rises and after 30 years is increased by almost three times.
Women who have had radiotherapy for cancer of the neck of the womb (cervical cancer) have their risk of kidney cancer increased by almost a third. After 30 years the risk is almost double compared to that of women in the general population.
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Mild painkillers:
Some mild painkilling drugs have been linked to increased kidney cancer risk. Some other types of painkillers called non steroidal anti inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) may increase the risk of kidney cancer slightly, including ibuprofen (Nurofen) and naproxen . It is unlikely that occasional use or low dose use would be harmful.
Hepatitis C:
Person suffered from hepatitis C have double the risk of kidney cancer.
kidney transplant:
people who have had a kidney transplant have an estimated 1 in 100 chance of developing kidney cancer in their remaining ‘native’ kidney
Some mild painkilling drugs have been linked to increased kidney cancer risk. Some other types of painkillers called non steroidal anti inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) may increase the risk of kidney cancer slightly, including ibuprofen (Nurofen) and naproxen . It is unlikely that occasional use or low dose use would be harmful.
Hepatitis C:
Person suffered from hepatitis C have double the risk of kidney cancer.
kidney transplant:
people who have had a kidney transplant have an estimated 1 in 100 chance of developing kidney cancer in their remaining ‘native’ kidney