Upper Tract Tumors

Home » Upper Tract Tumors » Causes, Risk Factors

Causes and Risk Factors

The cause of upper tract tumors is unknown. A personal history of bladder cancer is the primary risk factor. Smoking cigarettes is also a major risk factor. Smoking may contribute to as many as 60-80% of cases.

Other risk factors include the following:

• Age
• Balkan descent
• Chronic urinary tract infections
• Family history of transitional cell carcinoma
• Genetic mutation of the p53 gene
• Overuse of analgesics that contain phenacetin
• Recurrent kidney stones
• Use of chemotherapy drugs cyclophosphamide and ifosfamide

People who work in chemical, petroleum, aniline dye, and plastics industries, and those exposed to coal, tar, and asphalt, also have an increased risk for upper tract tumors. Consuming more than seven cups of coffee a day may slightly increase the risk for the condition.

© 1998-2008 Healthcommunities.com, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Upper Tract Tumors Resources

	Join Our Upper Tract Tumors Forum Do you have a question, want to share medical advice, or just need to discuss your situation with someone else having a similar experience? The healthchannels forum is a resource for everyone to share and discuss their health and medical needs with others.	Advertising Disclaimer
	Living with...Share your story Do you have a personal health story that you would like to share with others? As a source of free patient education, our goal is to provide our users with trustworthy information and support from others. That's why we've started our "Living with..." sections.
	Our "Living With..." support pages are a place to share experiences about living with a certain condition, disease, disorder, or illness and for loved ones of those dealing with health-related issues. Many people, especially when newly diagnosed, find comfort in knowing that others are having a similar experience. Help others by sharing your story. View stories already submitted.
	Stay Updated Sign up for our newsletter and receive important updates on the medical conditions that are most important to you.
To quickly access health information from your website's browser, download Healthcommunities.com's healthchannels toolbar.