If you or someone you care about has been diagnosed with kidney cancer, it’s natural to wonder what might have caused it and whether other family members could be at risk. Scientists don’t know exactly what causes most kidney cancers, but they’ve identified certain factors that can increase the risk of developing it.

Kidney cancer starts when certain gene mutations (changes) cause kidney cells to grow and divide uncontrollably, forming a kidney tumor. These mutations can happen for many reasons. Some people inherit gene changes from a parent, while others develop them later in life. Most kidney cancers involve a combination of genetic changes that build up over time.

Even if you have a known risk factor, that doesn’t mean you’ll get kidney cancer — and some people develop it without any known risk factors. Your healthcare provider can help you understand your personal risk and what steps you might take to stay healthy.

This article discusses 12 known risk factors for kidney cancer. Learning about these risks can help you make healthier choices and talk to your family about their health, too.

1. Smoking

Smoking cigarettes or using other tobacco products is a well-known risk factor for several cancers, including all types of kidney cancer. Studies show that smoking may contribute to between 6 percent and 15 percent of kidney cancers.

People who smoke have about a 39 percent higher risk of getting kidney cancer compared with people who’ve never smoked. The more a person smokes, the greater their risk. A 2019 review of 56 studies (called a meta-analysis) found that smoking an average of five cigarettes a day for 25 years was linked to an 18 percent higher risk of kidney cancer. Smoking 30 cigarettes a day raised the risk by 72 percent.

Quitting can help reduce the risk but not eliminate it. In the study, people who used to smoke still had about a 20 percent higher risk of kidney cancer than those who never smoked.

2. Older Age

The risk of kidney cancer increases as you get older. According to the National Cancer Institute, most people are diagnosed between ages 65 and 74.

Kidney cancer is more common in older people for many reasons. For one, genetic changes that can lead to cancer build up over time. Older adults are also more likely to have health conditions linked to kidney cancer, such as hypertension (high blood pressure), higher body weight, and diabetes.

3. Male Sex

Men are about twice as likely as women to develop kidney cancer, according to the American Cancer Society. One possible reason: Men are more likely to have other risk factors, like smoking or working in jobs with exposure to cancer-causing chemicals.

4. Excess Body Weight

About 25 percent of kidney cancer cases are caused by obesity or having a higher body weight, according to Cancer Research UK. The more excess body weight a person has, the greater their risk may be, possibly due to related hormone changes.

5. High Blood Pressure

High blood pressure — when the force of blood pushing against the arteries is too high — affects about half of all adults in the U.S. Over time, high blood pressure can lead to inflammation and turn on genes that support cancer cell growth. Additionally, high blood pressure can damage blood vessels in the kidneys and may lead to chronic (long-term) kidney disease — another known risk factor for kidney cancer.

6. Kidney Disease

Kidney disease happens when the kidneys don’t work as well as they should. In the U.S., about 15 percent of adults have some form of kidney disease. People with chronic kidney disease are about two to three times more likely to develop kidney cancer. The most common causes of kidney disease, including diabetes and high blood pressure, are also kidney cancer risk factors.

Over time, chronic kidney disease can lead to kidney failure, when the kidneys no longer function on their own. People with kidney failure often need dialysis, a treatment that filters waste from the blood. The longer a person is on dialysis, the higher their risk of kidney cancer.

7. Diabetes

Diabetes is a condition that causes high blood sugar. People with diabetes may have about a 40 percent increased risk of kidney cancer compared to people without diabetes. The higher risk is likely related to other conditions associated with diabetes, such as obesity, high blood pressure, and kidney disease.

8. Chemical Exposure

Working with certain chemicals may increase the risk of kidney cancer. For example, workplace exposure to trichloroethylene, commonly used as a metal cleaner and degreaser, can raise the risk of kidney cancer by 30 percent to 40 percent. Other chemicals linked to kidney cancer include cadmium, arsenic, and pesticides.

9. Family History of Kidney Cancer

Having a relative with kidney cancer, especially a sibling, makes you more likely to develop it. The increased risk may be due to shared genes, similar habits, or a shared environment.

In some cases, kidney cancer runs in families because of genetic conditions that raise the risk of kidney cancer and other types of cancer. These conditions aren’t common, but knowing about them can help people take steps to monitor their health.

Some of these inherited conditions are:

• Von Hippel-Lindau disease — Can cause tumors and cysts in different parts of the body, including the kidneys
• Birt-Hogg-Dubé syndrome — Can lead to benign skin tumors, lung cysts, and kidney cancer
• Hereditary papillary renal carcinoma — Increases the risk of a specific type of kidney cancer called papillary renal cell carcinoma
• Tuberous sclerosis complex — Causes noncancerous tumors to grow in the brain and other organs, including the kidneys
• Hereditary leiomyomatosis and renal cell cancer — Can lead to skin and uterine tumors and raise the risk of kidney cancer

If kidney cancer runs in your family, talk with your doctor about whether genetic testing might be right for you.

10. American Indian and Alaska Native Heritage

In the United States, kidney cancer occurs most often in people with American Indian or Alaska Native heritage. Non-Hispanic Black and Hispanic people also have a higher risk of kidney cancer compared to non-Hispanic white people.

11. Long-Term Use of Certain Pain Medications

Regularly using acetaminophen (Tylenol) for 10 years or more has been linked to a higher risk of kidney cancer. However, occasional or short-term use doesn’t seem to increase risk.

It’s unclear how other pain medications, such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like aspirin, affect kidney cancer risk. Talk with your healthcare provider about which pain medications are safest for you.

12. Kidney Stones

People who’ve had kidney stones may be more likely to develop kidney cancer. Kidney stones form when minerals or salts build up into small crystals. These stones can cause inflammation, which may trigger genetic changes over time. Kidney stones and kidney cancer share several risk factors, including diabetes, high blood pressure, and obesity, which may help explain the connection.

Find Your Team

On MyKidneyCancerTeam, the social network for people living with kidney cancer and their loved ones, members come together to ask questions, give advice, and share their stories with others who understand life with kidney cancer.

Have you or a loved one been diagnosed with kidney cancer? What questions do you have about kidney cancer risk factors? Share your experience in the comments below, or start a conversation by posting on your Activities page.