Kidney cancer can happen to both men and women. The symptoms may include pain in the side and blood in the urine. Obesity, smoking, and high blood pressure can increase the risk of developing this disease. Hence, it is essential to know about the risk factors and prevention tips for kidney cancer to minimize your chances of developing the disease.

General risk factors

• Gender
  Men are more likely to develop kidney cancer than women.
• Age
  As age increases, the risk of developing kidney cancer increases.
• Race
  Why African Americans and Asian Americans are at an increased risk of developing kidney cancer is not yet known.
• High blood pressure
  People with high blood pressure are at an increased risk of developing kidney cancer, and it does not minimize even if medicines are consumed to treat high blood pressure.
• Obesity
  Obese people who consume a high-fat diet have a higher risk of developing kidney cancer.
• Dialysis
  People with advanced chronic kidney disease requiring dialysis treatment are more likely to develop kidney cancer.
• Diabetes
  Diabetes is one of the risk factors that increases the risk of kidney cancer.

Family history or inherited genetic conditions
A person with a family history of kidney cancer can also develop this disease. Also, people who have inherited genetic conditions have a greater risk, including the following.

• von Hippel-Lindau disease
• Hereditary papillary renal cell carcinoma
• Birt-hogg-dube syndrome
• Hereditary renal oncocytoma
• Hereditary leiomyoma renal cell carcinoma
• Tuberous sclerosis
• Cowden syndrome

Lifestyle-related risk factors
Lifestyle-related risk factors can be controlled.

• Smoking
  The use of cigarettes increases the risk of kidney cancer, so smokers are at greater risk.
• Workplace exposures
  Long-term exposure to certain substances in the workplace such as asbestos, cadmium, lead, and trichloroethylene puts a person at risk of kidney cancer.

By being aware of the risk factors and prevention tips for kidney cancer, you can take the necessary steps to lower your risk of the disease. Taking certain preventive measures can help in reducing the likelihood of developing kidney cancer.

Listed below are some of the prevention tips for kidney cancer.

• Maintain a healthy weight
  Talk to your healthcare professional about ways to reduce weight in case you are overweight.
• Opt for a nutritious diet
  You need to opt for a diet, which is high in fruits and vegetables and low in fat.
• Quit smoking
  There are many ways to quit this habit. You can try nicotine products, medications, and more, to quit smoking. You can discuss the options available for quitting smoking.
• Avoiding exposure to hazardous substances at work
  Avoid workplace exposure to harmful substances like asbestos, organic solvents, etc.
• Exercise regularly
  Regularly exercising improves the quality of life and helps in keeping the cancer at bay.

Now that you know the risk factors and prevention tips for kidney cancer , take proper measures to keep yourself safe from the disease.