This page was reviewed under our medical and editorial policy by
Maurie Markman, MD, President, Medicine & Science.
This page was updated on May 20, 2022.
Each year, more than 81,000 people in the United States are diagnosed with kidney cancer. No one knows if or when the disease will develop, but understanding the risk factors for kidney cancer may help you take preventive measures to reduce the likelihood of developing the disease.
Kidney cancer is caused when DNA in cells in one or both kidneys mutate, which may lead to uncontrolled cell division and growth. While the exact cause of a person’s kidney cancer may not be known, certain risk factors are strongly linked to the disease, including smoking tobacco and obesity. Also, people with certain hereditary cancer syndromes or a family history of kidney cancer have a high risk of developing the disease.
Known risk factors for kidney cancer include:
Gender: Men are twice as likely to develop kidney cancer as women.
Obesity: Excess weight, especially when caused by a high-fat diet, can increase a person’s kidney cancer risks.
High blood pressure: People with high blood pressure are more likely to develop kidney cancer.
Dialysis: People who receive long-term dialysis, which enables those without functioning kidneys to filter their blood through a machine, are more likely to develop kidney cancer.
Family history or inherited genetic syndromes: Kidney cancer risk factors increase for those who have a family history of the disease and those with the following inherited genetic conditions:
Smoking tobacco: The use of cigarettes, pipes and cigars can contribute to the likelihood of developing kidney cancer.
Occupational exposure: Exposure to asbestos and/or cadmium(a type of metal used in the production of batteries, plastics, and other industrial processes) may increase the risk of developing kidney cancer.
Learn more about treatments for kidney cancer
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