What causes cancer of the kidney and renal pelvis?
It is known that some types of kidney cancer are more common among people with certain genetic disorders (Von Hippel-Lindau disease and some others) and in people with a family history of kidney cancer. Cancer of the kidney and renal pelvis is also more common in urban, industrialized areas. The risk of kidney cancer among smokers is about 40% higher than among nonsmokers. In addition, the longer a person smokes, the higher their risk of developing this disease. If a person quits smoking, their risk decreases over time. Being very overweight and having an inactive lifestyle are also associated with kidney cancer. Studies also suggest that coke oven workers in steel plants and workers exposed to asbestos or cadmium may have an increased risk for getting cancer of the kidney or renal pelvis. Other studies indicate that radiation therapy for disorders of the uterus, exposure to thorotrast (a radioactive substance used in the 1920s) and heavy and long-term use of the drug phenacetin (a pai
