Risk factors are those which can increase the chance of developing cancer. For example, what factors increase a person’s risk of developing kidney cancer? Read this article to know more.
What is kidney cancer?
Kidneys are a pair of organs present in the abdomen region on either side of the spine. It has the shape of a bean, and its primary function is blood filtration, where it removes waste and extra fluid from the human body. A healthy kidney ensures a perfect balance of water, salts, and minerals like sodium, phosphorus, calcium, and potassium.
Cancer is a condition in which the body’s cells start dividing uncontrollably to form a lump of tissue called a tumour. This cancerous or malignant tumour grows, spreads, and invades other human body parts, including the brain. Kidney cancer is a condition where abnormal cancer cells appear in the kidneys. In India, more men are diagnosed with kidney cancer than women, with an incidence rate of 2/1,00,000 and 1/1,00,000, respectively.
What are the types of kidney cancers?
- Renal cell carcinoma (RCC)
- Transitional cell carcinoma
- Wilms’ tumour
- Renal sarcoma
What are the symptoms of kidney cancer?
- Blood in the urine
- Persistent back pain
- Loss of appetite
- Unhealthy weight loss
- Fatigue or weakness
- Fever and chills
- Bone pain
- High blood pressure
- Anaemia
What are the risk factors of kidney cancer?
A risk factor need not directly cause cancer, but it influences the development of cancer in an individual. As per several studies and research, the following have been deduced as kidney cancer risk factors;
- Von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) syndrome or VHL syndrome
- Hereditary papillary renal cell carcinoma or HPRCC
- Birt-Hogg-Dubé (BHD) syndrome or BHD syndrome
- Hereditary leiomyomatosis and renal cell carcinoma or HLRCC
- Tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) syndrome or TSC syndrome
- Succinate dehydrogenase complex syndrome or SDH complex syndrome
- BAP1 tumour predisposition syndrome or BAP1 TPS
How to avoid kidney cancer risk?
Medical experts around the world recommend people undergo screening and testing for cancer every year or every six months to catch the disease in it’s early stages. People with a family history of kidney cancer or above mentioned genetic conditions should undergo screening.
Kidney cancer, like other cancer types, can be prevented with a healthy lifestyle, which includes a balanced diet, exercise, plenty of fluid intake and the absence of self-destructive habits like excessive alcohol consumption, smoking, excess sugar consumption, drug abuse, and unprotected sex life.
In conclusion,
Cancer is a fatal condition that shows up without warning, but it is not inevitable. There is no point in constantly worrying about its possibility. We can prevent it to an extent with a healthy lifestyle, but people should undergo screening for not just kidney but all types of cancers once a year or every six months. At the end of the day, cancer patients require support, strength, and motivation to keep going.
Do you suspect kidney cancer?
CancerMitr provides a comprehensive treatment plan for all cancer patients, from discovery to recovery. Check out our website and avail yourself of various testing and screening packages.