The kidneys are the main organs that filter waste from the body and excrete it through urine. Kidney cancer is a condition in which the DNA structure of the cells in the kidney grows uncontrollably and turns into tumors. The most common type of cancer is Renal Cell Carcinoma (RCC). Here are the 5 main scientific reasons behind the formation of such cancer cells in the kidney:
Smoking & Toxins: Smokers are twice as likely to develop kidney cancer as non-smokers. The deadly toxins in cigarette smoke enter the bloodstream through the lungs and when they reach the kidneys to filter the blood, they cause long-term damage to the delicate cells there. This breaks down the structure of the cells and paves the way for cancer.
Obesity and insulin changes: People who are overweight are at a higher risk of kidney cancer. When there is excess fat in the body, it causes major changes in the level of the hormone estrogen and insulin function. These hormonal changes have been scientifically proven to cause unnecessary proliferation of kidney cells.
Uncontrolled high blood pressure: Chronic high blood pressure (Hypertension) damages the blood vessels in the kidneys and causes inflammation there. Excessive use of certain medications taken for a long time to lower BP can also damage kidney cells.
Occupational Exposure: People who work in factories and industries regularly inhale certain chemicals. This risk of the disease is especially high in those who handle organic solvents such as cadmium, asbestos, and trichloroethylene.
Heredity and Genetic Syndromes: If someone in the family has had kidney cancer, there is a genetic risk that the next generation will also get it. Also, people with rare genetic diseases like VHL (Von Hippel-Lindau disease) and hereditary papillary renal cell carcinoma can develop tumors in various parts of the body, which can lead to kidney cancer.