Renal Cell Carcinoma–Causes
What causes kidney cancer?
The exact cause of Renal Cell Carcinoma is not known. But certain risk factors are known to be associated with it, including smoking, overuse of certain painkillers, long-term dialysis, exposure to asbestos or cadmium, being overweight and eating a diet high in fat. In addition, some genetic factors and diseases such as tuberous sclerosis may increase one’s risk.
Kidney cancer is twice as likely to occur in men than in women.（Each year in the United States, about 20,000 men and 12,000 women learn they have kidney cancer.） It is most often found in people over 50 years of age. There is no single cause of kidney cancer, but some factors increase the risk of developing it. Kidney cancer is not contagious.
Risk factors include the following:
- Smoking. major risk factor. Cigarette smokers are twice as likely as nonsmokers to develop kidney cancer.
- long-term or heavy use of certain painkillers (phenacetin-based analgesics)
- Having certain genetic conditions, such as Von Hippel-Lindau disease or hereditary papillary renal cell carcinoma. (VHL is a rare disease that runs in some families. It is caused by changes in the VHL gene. An abnormal VHL gene increases the risk of kidney cancer. It also can cause cysts or tumors in the eyes, brain, and other parts of the body. Family members of those with this syndrome can have a test to check for the abnormal VHL gene. For people with the abnormal VHL gene, doctors may suggest ways to improve the detection of kidney cancer and other diseases before symptoms develop. )
- Obesity, being overweighted
- long-term dialysis（Dialysis is a treatment for people whose kidneys do not work well. It removes wastes from the blood.）Dialysis patients with acquired cystic disease of the kidney showed a 30 times greater risk than in the general population for developing RCC.
- exposure to the solvent trichloroethylene.
- high blood pressure (hypertension)
- African ancestry
- drinking water that contains high levels of arsenic.
- Some people have a higher risk of getting kidney cancer because they come in contact with certain chemicals or substances in their workplace. People who come in contact with coke (used in steel production), asbestos or cadmium may have a higher risk of getting kidney cancer.
- Some people develop kidney cancer without any of these risk factors.
Most people who have these risk factors do not get kidney cancer. On the other hand, most people who do get the disease have no known risk factors. People who think they may be at risk should discuss this concern with their doctor. The doctor may be able to suggest ways to reduce the risk and can plan an appropriate schedule for checkups. If you are over 50, 2 times physical check- up a year is recommend.
