What are some common risk factors for developing kidney cancer?

• Age - Most kidney cancers occur in people 60 and older.
• Gender - Men are more than twice as likely as are women to develop renal cell carcinoma.
• Smoking - Smokers are at greater risk than non-smokers. The risk increases the longer you smoke and can decrease after you quit, although may take years to reach the same risk level as someone who has never smoked.
• Obesity - May account for as many as one-third of renal cell carcinomas.
• High blood pressure (hypertension) - Having high blood pressure increases the likelihood of kidney cancer and the risk increases further if you're also overweight. Diuretic medications used to treat hypertension actually may contribute to kidney cancer as well.