Kidney cancer is a tumor that develops in one or both the kidneys. It is to be noted that renal cell carcinoma is one of the most common types of kidney cancers that adults develop. The American Cancer Society estimates that in 2020, close to 74,000 new kidney cancer cases will be diagnosed in the United States. Here are the top causes of kidney cancer that you should know about.

• Smoking
  Smoking is one of the top causes of kidney cancer that doctors keep warning their patients about. The use of cigarettes increases your risk of developing tumors in the kidney and other parts of the body. Apart from cigarettes, using all kinds of tobacco can increase the risk.
• Exposure to harmful chemicals
  Getting exposed to harmful chemicals can be a part of one’s lifestyle or an occupational hazard. Chemicals like cadmium and asbestos are produced in industries that manufacture batteries and plastics. Exposure to these chemicals is also one of the leading causes of kidney cancer.
• Heredity
  Genetics play an important role in determining how risky you are for developing tumors in the kidneys. People whose first relatives have had kidney cancer can be at a higher risk of developing the condition themselves. Genetics can pose a risk of developing tumors. You can identify your risk factor by doing a gene mapping.
• Obesity
  A very common preventable cause of kidney cancer is obesity. The higher your BMI, the more you are at risk of developing the condition. The only way to stay healthy with minimal risk is to lose weight as soon as you can. Obesity also is a cause for other types of cancers.
• Hypertension
  People diagnosed with hypertension are said to be under the radar when it comes to kidney cancer. Unless they handle their blood pressure levels and keep it normal, their kidney can face excess stress, and this can cause mutant changes in its cell structure, resulting in the development of tumors.
• Age
  Age is a non-preventable cause of kidney cancer. As you age, your risk of developing the condition increases too. Maintaining a healthy diet, working out, and getting health checkups can prevent the sudden onset of extreme cases of this cancer.
• Getting treated for kidney diseases
  If you are being treated for kidney issues, have had kidney-related surgery before, or are on dialysis, these also could be causes you develop cancer in the kidney.

Knowing all these causes of kidney cancer can save your life. You can stay away from the preventable causes and also catch the disease early and get treated successfully. A diagnosis of kidney cancer need not be a death sentence. Talk to your doctor and get all the treatment processes in place. Staying positive helps heal the body.