How To Prevent And Treat Kidney Cancer

Maintain A Healthy Weight

An individual who maintains a healthy weight can help prevent the development of kidney cancer. Over a quarter of all kidney cancer cases in the United States are attributed to obesity and being overweight. Additionally, a body mass index in the overweight or obese range increases an individual's risk of having high blood pressure, which compounds the existing increased risk of an individual who is overweight or obese. Overweight or obese individuals are known to have a higher glomerular filtration rate than those who have a healthy body mass index. This means more blood passes through the tiny filters in the kidneys each minute than the amount that passes in someone of a healthy weight. 

Additionally, overweight and obese individuals have a higher renal plasma flow or a greater volume of blood plasma that flows through the kidneys in a set amount of time. When these factors are increased, there is opportunistic increase for a substance or pathogen in the blood to cause cellular damage in the kidney. More cellular damage causes an increase in the risk of carcinogenesis or the development of malignancy.