Kidney cancer risk increases due to lifestyle factors and obesity

Prof. Dr. Selçuk Şahin, a urology specialist at Liv Hospital Vadi İstanbul, has highlighted the importance of early diagnosis in treating kidney cancer, noting that the disease often progresses silently without symptoms in its early stages.

Because the kidneys are located deep in the abdominal cavity, small tumors may go unnoticed until they press against surrounding tissues or reach the urinary tract. Key symptoms that require immediate medical attention include blood in the urine, back or side pain, and palpable masses in the abdomen or side.

There has been a noted increase in kidney cancer cases globally and in Turkey. This rise is attributed to improved imaging techniques that detect smaller tumors earlier, as well as lifestyle factors. Research indicates that smoking, obesity, and hypertension are significant risk factors, collectively responsible for approximately 50% of cases. Specifically, smokers face a 1.4 to 2 times higher risk, while individuals with obesity or hypertension face a 2 to 3 times higher risk of developing the disease.