Kidney cancer, a cancer that develops in the kidney (kidney), is less known to people compared to its risk. Kidney cancer is the 10th most common cancer in Korea in terms of the number of patients. According to data from the Central Cancer Registry released in December 2021, there were 6026 new cases of kidney cancer in 2019 alone. Learn regarding the symptoms, risk factors, and prevention of kidney cancer.
◆ What are the symptoms? If it shows up, it’s pretty advanced
Kidney cancer (renal cell carcinoma), like other cancers, has no symptoms in the early stages. It is often found following metastasis to other organs as there are no symptoms until a certain degree of progression. In the past, flank pain, hematuria, and palpable lumps in the upper abdomen or left and right abdomen were the three major symptoms, but these symptoms have recently been decreasing. All of them occur in only 10 to 15% of cases. This is when the cancer is quite advanced. In addition, fatigue, weight loss, fever, and anemia occur. At the first diagnosis, 10 to 30% of cases are detected when the cancer has already metastasized to other organs.
◆ What is the strongest risk factor?
Excessive smoking is the strongest risk factor for kidney cancer. Smokers are 2.5 times more at risk. Smoking is associated with 30% of male kidney cancer patients and 20% of female patients. Hypertension is also a risk factor. High blood pressure is known to be involved in the development of cancer by affecting kidney damage and inflammation. People who are on long-term hemodialysis for kidney disease should also be screened for cancer. People with a family history also need regular checkups.
◆ Good food vs bad food… How to get early screening?
Obesity also increases the risk of kidney cancer. Excessive consumption of animal fats, fried, burnt meat, and high-calorie foods for a long period of time increase the risk of kidney cancer. Salty foods, which are closely related to high blood pressure, are also bad for the kidneys. All of these foods are known to promote inflammation and cancer by adversely affecting the kidney’s microvessels.
Various colored fruits and vegetables are considered good foods to prevent kidney cancer. It is rich in antioxidants that prevent oxidation (damage) in the body and is low in calories, so it helps in weight control. Meat is also eaten moderately, but it is better to eat lean meat mainly boiled. Regular exercise along with smoking cessation reduces the risk of kidney cancer.
Since most kidney cancers have no symptoms in the early stages, it is necessary to make an effort to detect them early through regular check-ups such as abdominal ultrasonography. Abdominal ultrasonography is an efficient test that can observe multiple organs in the abdomen without any risk or pain associated with the examination. It is a very useful test to differentiate a lump or lump. Currently, ultrasonography is being used as an efficient primary test method for diagnosing kidney disease.
Reporter Kim Yong-eok [email protected]
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