Kidney cancer is not as common as some other types of cancers in India, which leads to a lack of awareness regarding the condition. One of the highest risks of kidney cancer is among ageing men. Without proper awareness regarding kidney cancer risk factors and symptoms, it becomes increasingly difficult for people to take appropriate steps that would help reduce their risk of cancer.
Cancer prevention is one of the best ways to keep yourself healthy, and the steps required to prevent cancer will automatically help you lead a healthier life. So, to help you with kidney cancer prevention, let’s study the critical risk factors for kidney cancer, kidney cancer symptoms, and how an early diagnosis can help you with kidney cancer treatment.
A family history of kidney cancer is one of the most critical risks of the condition. If anyone in your immediate family such as your parents, grandparents, or siblings has kidney cancer, it increases your risk of the condition, significantly. If you have distant relatives who have had kidney cancer, even that can increase your risk of the condition. However, please note that kidney cancer alone doesn’t define your entire risk profile, there are other factors, which will be discussed below.
The lack of a healthy diet and obesity have become a crucial risk factor for kidney cancer. Being overweight puts a lot of pressure on the various organ systems in your body, including the renal system. Studies have shown that a higher fat percentage in your body increases the insulin levels in your body, as well as the insulin growth factor. These hormones have been studied to increase your risk of kidney cancer. So you must maintain a healthy body weight and focus on your health, allowing you to live a healthier life.
People over the age of 50 are at a high risk of kidney cancer. Most kidney cancer diagnoses in patients are between the ages of 50 to 70. Compared to young adults under the age of 45, they have a minimal risk of the condition as kidney cancer is extremely rare among young adults. It is important to note that underlying health conditions, lifestyle practices, and obesity can increase your risk of kidney cancer, even before you reach the age of 50. So, managing each risk factor independently is imperative to keep your overall risk profile in control.
Men are much more likely to get kidney cancer than women. To be precise, men are two to three times more likely to develop this condition, compared to women. Not only are men more likely to develop this condition, but they also have a higher mortality rate from kidney cancer. It is essential to understand that this increase in risk is often caused due to underlying health conditions like hypertension and obesity.
Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) is known to contribute to your risk of kidney cancer. It is estimated that people with CKD who do not yet require dialysis treatment are at the highest risk of kidney cancer among CKD patients. It should be noted that CKD is both a cause of and can be caused by kidney cancer and vice versa. This is mainly because the toxins in your body that can increase your risk of CKD are the same as the ones that increase your risk of kidney cancer.
Dialysis treatment in general, doesn’t increase your risk of kidney cancer. However, patients who have gone through dialysis for an extended period are considered at high risk of kidney cancer. Patients who have gone through dialysis for a long time develop cancerous cysts in their kidneys, which require medical treatment. Generally, these cysts are diagnosed at an early stage and medically removed to stop the risk of cancer spreading. The early diagnosis is made possible as dialysis patients are regularly required to go through imaging tests.
High blood pressure levels consistently lead to hypertension and it is linked to an increase in your risk of kidney cancer. Studies have shown that people with hypertension are at a 60% higher risk of kidney cancer compared to people who don’t have hypertension. Generally, among male patients, hypertension and obesity combined increase the risk of kidney cancer and can even lead to chronic kidney disease, if left unchecked. It is essential to maintain a healthy blood pressure level to keep yourself safe from kidney cancer.
Smoking is the most critical among risk factors for kidney cancer as it is believed to be a cause of a large percentage of all kidney cancer cases. Smoking tobacco in any form is said to double your risk of kidney cancer. Smoking is one of the risk factors that can be reduced based on whether you quit smoking or not. The amount you smoke directly relates to your risk of kidney cancer, which is why chain smokers are at a high risk of kidney cancer.
Cadmium is a metal found in paints, batteries, and welding materials. Exposure to this metal for an extended period can increase your risk of kidney cancer. Smokers who are exposed to cadmium are at an even higher risk of kidney cancer due to the combined effect of cadmium exposure and tobacco smoking.
Kidney cancer, much like several other types of cancer, doesn’t have apparent symptoms for the condition. Cancer symptoms often don’t show up when the condition is just developing. They generally start appearing when the condition has developed and is reaching advanced stages. This is why, diagnosing cancer at an early stage requires dedicated efforts in going through screening tests as advised by your doctors and keeping your risk factors in check. To help you identify the earliest signs of kidney cancer, look out for these kidney cancer symptoms.
Getting an early diagnosis can help you prevent the cancer from spreading. It can also allow you to opt for better treatment options such as modern therapeutic cancer treatments instead of surgery, which has lower risks to your health. Getting an early diagnosis is crucial for your health and it helps reduce the financial burden of cancer treatment as well as reduce the emotional toll of the diagnosis. These are only some of the benefits of getting an early diagnosis for your kidney cancer treatment. Make sure you partake in appropriate screening tests in a timely manner to keep yourself safe from kidney cancer.
Now that you know about the most important risk factors for kidney cancer, it is important that you monitor your own risk factors and take preventative steps. To learn more about kidney cancer or to opt for screening tests, check out our website. At MASSH we are proud to be working with the top oncologists in Delhi who can help you diagnose and treat kidney cancer easily with minimal risks. Visit us today to get a second opinion from our specialists and avail the best of minimally invasive surgical treatments for kidney cancer, only at MASSH.
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Written by MASSH
Feb 22, 2024
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