Urology

How To Reduce Chances of Kidney Cancer?

Dr. Aman Gupta Oct 31, 2023

How to reduce chances of Kidney Cancer?

Stop smoking/Tobacco: it doubles the risk
Obesity increases the risk: maintain optimal body weight
High blood pressure increases the risk: control BP
Eat healthy: more fruits and vegetables, less fat

Other risk factors are:

Chronic kidney disease and dialysis
Exposure to cadmium: paints and welding industry
Some genetic conditions

Early signs of Kidney Cancer?

NONE!!! Often detected incidentally on ultrasound done for other purpose.

Blood in urine
Lump felt in tummy
Pain

All are late signs!!!

So be aware. Go for an annual health check up( easy and affordable in India !!) Watch your urine for any blood before you flush your commode.

Causes of poor urinary stream in men

Imagine urine flow like water flowing out of a tap. There can be two causes of water not flowing with good stream out of a tap:

Tap tubing or channel( URETHRA) is blocked.
Motor( BLADDER MUSCLE) pumping the water into the tap from the reservoir(BLADDER) is not functioning properly generally due to faulty wiring( nerve supply to bladder)

Causes of a blocked tap( urinary passage)

Stricture ( scarring ) of urethra: can only be corrected surgically
Enlarged prostate( benign or cancerous): can be treated with medicines and surgery
Stone in urinary passage or urinary bladder
A bladder cancer located near bladder outlet
Phimosis( tight foreskin)

Causes of poor functioning pump ( weak baldder)

Diabetes, long standing
Any problem at level of brain, spine or nerves which supply urine bladder(wiring of the pump): stroke, brain Tumor, spine compression due to disc prolapse or cancer and Lots other neurological problems.
Medicines causing weakness of bladder like anticholinergics

See a urologist for a weak urine stream and majority causes are easily treatable. Ignoring the symptoms may lead to missing a serious underlying cause or risking serious complications like kidney failure as a result of long standing urine obstruction.