Does Kidney Cancer Decrease to Children? Here's the Scientific Explanation

Illustration of a person with kidney cancer (photo: Freepik)

YOGYAKARTA - Does kidney cancer pass on to children? This question often arises among the public, especially for those who have family members with a history of this disease. Many people are worried that the disease can be passed on to children or the next generation.

Quoted from the Mayo Clinic website, kidney cancer is a condition where abnormal cell growth occurs in the kidneys.

The kidneys themselves are two bean-shaped organs that are about the size of a fist. This organ is located in the back of the abdominal cavity, specifically on both sides of the spine, with one kidney on the right side and another on the left.

In adults, the most common type of kidney cancer is renal cell carcinoma. In addition, there are several other types of kidney cancer that are less common. Meanwhile, in children, the most common type of kidney cancer is Wilms tumor.

Does Kidney Cancer Fall to Children?

According to the National Cancer Institute, experts say that most cases of kidney cancer are not inherited from parents to children. Only about 5 percent to 8 percent of kidney cancer cases are hereditary kidney cancer.

Kidney cancer that appears in several family members or occurs in several generations is called hereditary kidney cancer. This condition is usually related to certain genetic syndromes that increase a person's risk of cancer.

This means that even if someone has a family member with kidney cancer, it does not necessarily mean that their children or descendants will have the same disease.

Differences between Hereditary and Non-Hereditary Kidney Cancer

Hereditary kidney cancer has some differences compared to ordinary kidney cancer. Here are some of the characteristics:

It occurs at a younger age than the general case. Appears in several family members in one lineage. Sometimes it occurs in both kidneys at once. Often associated with certain genetic syndromes.

Meanwhile, non-inherited kidney cancer usually occurs sporadically due to other factors, such as lifestyle, exposure to certain substances, or random gene changes.

Genetic Syndromes Associated with Renal Cancer

Several inherited syndromes are known to increase the risk of kidney cancer. This condition occurs due to gene mutations that are inherited from parents to children.

The following are some syndromes associated with kidney cancer:

Hereditary Leiomyomatosis and Renal Cell Cancer (HLRCC)

This syndrome can cause tumors on the skin, uterus, and increase the risk of kidney cancer.

Von Hippel-Lindau (VHL)

Genetic conditions that can trigger tumor growth in various organs, including the kidneys.

Birt-Hogg-Dubé Syndrome (BHD)

A rare syndrome that causes the growth of tumors in the skin, lungs, and kidneys.

Hereditary Papillary Renal Cancer (HPRC)

Genetic conditions that increase the risk of papillary kidney cancer.

These syndromes are usually inherited through an autosomal dominant pattern, that is, when a person only needs to inherit one mutated gene from one parent to have a risk of the disease.

Urothelial Cancer of the Kidney

It is worth noting that not all cancers that occur in the kidney area originate from the kidney tissue itself. There are also cancers that appear in the renal pelvis or ureter, called urothelial cancers.

This type of cancer is different from kidney cell cancer and has different risk factors. In some cases, urothelial cancer can be related to other genetic conditions such as Lynch syndrome.

How to Reduce the Risk of Kidney Cancer

Although genetic factors may play a role, many cases of kidney cancer are influenced by lifestyle factors. The risk of this disease can be reduced in the following ways:

Maintaining ideal body weight Quitting smoking Controlling blood pressure Eating healthy food Routine health check-up

If you have a history of kidney cancer in the family, consulting a doctor or doing genetic testing can help you know the risk level more clearly.