In the early stages of kidney disease, there may not be many signs that something is wrong. Often times, kidney cancer is found by going for an X-ray or ultrasound for something that is unrelated. Sometimes it is only when the tumor is large enough to affect other organs that symptoms can appear. Read on to learn more about the symptoms that may reflect if you are prone to kidney cancer.
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Kidney function.
The kidneys are bean-shaped organs that are located on both sides of the spine in the mid-lower back position. Their job is to divert toxins, waste products, and fluid out of the blood and excrete the waste and fluid in the form of urine. The kidneys filter more than 500 liters of blood every 24 hours.
The toxins initially pass through the liver, where they become water-soluble, and then reach the kidneys for further filtration. The kidneys must distinguish toxins from nutrients so toxins are filtered out of the blood, while nutrients, including amino acids and glucose, are returned to the bloodstream. The toxins are then eliminated in the urine.
The kidneys are one of the main organs of elimination and are in constant contact with the toxins that they come into contact with.
As our exposure to toxins and pollutants in the environment has increased, so has the incidence of kidney cancer.
Kidney cancer is the seventh most common cancer in men, and it is the tenth most common cancer in women.
Kidney Cancer Warning Signs.
Some of the symptoms to take into account to know if you are prone to kidney cancer:
- Blood in the urine.
- Pain or pressure on the side or back.
- A lump or lump on the side or back.
- Swelling of the ankles and legs.
- High blood pressure.
- Anemia.
- Fatigue.
- Loss of appetite.
- Unexplained weight loss.
- Recurrent fever that is not from a cold, flu, or other infections.
- For men, a rapid development of a group of enlarged veins around a testicle, known as a varicocele.
So how can you reduce your risk of kidney cancer? First, you can reduce the amount of toxins your kidneys are exposed to, and second, give your kidneys some of the super nutrients they deserve.
Ways to Reduce Your Risk of Kidney Cancer.
1. Stop smoking.
Smoking can be one of the biggest risk factors for increasing the chance of developing kidney cancer. High levels of cadmium are associated with smoking and can cause kidney cancer. Smoking also increases carbon monoxide exposure in tissues, thereby creating a low-oxygen environment that sets the stage for inflammation and cancer.
Also, cigarette smoke has a chemical called Benzo (a) pyrene diol epoxide. This is a known carcinogen and mutagen that damages DNA and causes oxidative stress. This leads to inflammation, which along with increases in damaged DNA, increases your risk of cancer.
2. Eat whole foods – fresh food that has not been altered or preserved.
Our food and drinks are being altered to last longer and look better. These chemicals are also increasing the risk of kidney cancer. For example, BPA (bisphenol A), which has been banned by the FDA, is still used to line aluminum cans.
Evidence now shows that these chemicals damage the kidneys and increase the risk of cancer. Food coloring is another example. Food dyes have been linked to cancer.
For example, yellow # 6 (E110) has been banned in Norway and Finland. It causes tumors in the kidneys and adrenal glands of laboratory animals. However, it is still found in American cheese, mac n cheese, candy, and sodas.
3. Maintain a healthy body weight.
Maintain a healthy body weight, a healthy insulin response, and keep your blood pressure in a normal range. These factors reduce risk and are associated with a healthy inflammatory response.
On the other side of the coin – Obesity, diabetes, and high blood pressure is associated with insulin resistance, low tissue oxygenation, metabolic diseases, increased oxidative stress, and inflammation. Obesity is related to kidney cancer specifically. In fact, more than 40% of renal cell cancer patients are obese.
4. Use natural cleaning products.
Trichlorethylene, which can be found in household cleaning products, as well as industrial machining and refrigerants, is an example of a chemical that has a direct link to kidney cancer. Trichlorethylene has been found to cause kidney cell mutations.
5. Lead an active lifestyle.
Leading a sedentary life puts you at risk of developing kidney cancer. Regular physical activity is associated with lower body weight and stable blood pressure, improved insulin management, and a healthy inflammatory response.
6. Hormones.
Women who give birth at a young age are 40-90% more likely to develop kidney cancer. There is also an association with the number of children a woman has had: the more births a woman has, especially at a younger age, the greater the risk.
7. Gender.
Men are twice as likely to develop kidney cancer as women.
8. Age.
The average age of diagnosis is 64. People between the ages of 50-70 should have tests for symptoms of the disease.
9. Ethnic.
Genetics play an important role in the body’s risk for kidney cancer. Kidney cancer rates are higher in Europe and North America compared to Asia and South America. People of Asian descent living in the United States have also been found to have the same low rates of kidney cancer as do people in their home country.
10. Nourish the kidneys in a healthy way.
Science provides broad support that a diet rich in vegetables and fruits reduces the risk of developing cancer. A diet rich in antioxidants is one of the best-known defense systems for staying healthy and for preventing cancer.
Some foods to support the kidneys include: green leafy vegetables, asparagus, beets, dandelions, watermelon, cucumber, garlic, parsley, watercress, celery, radish, papaya, mango, parsnip, and kale.
Drink enough fluids.
Drink water, vegetable juices and add lime / lemon to the water. Liquids help flush toxins out of your body.
Include foods rich in antioxidants.
Antioxidants neutralize free radicals, and even in relatively low amounts, they can help slow or stop the rate of oxidation resulting from free radicals.
Some examples of antioxidants: lycopene, vitamins C, E and beta carotene and flavonoids. These can be found in bell peppers, blueberries, raspberries, blueberries, strawberries, cherries, and red grapes.
Choose healthy oils.
Healthy oils reduce inflammation and protect against oxidation. Get more omega-3s from fatty fish, such as salmon, albacore, mackerel, herring, and rainbow trout. Use extra virgin olive oil in your salads.
Choose organic grass-fed meats.
These meats are hormone-free and have a higher amount of essential fatty acids than meats that are not fed free range. This leads to less inflammation and less artificial hormones for the kidneys to process. Grass-fed meat is higher in antioxidants, which are precursors to fighting cancer.