Kidney Cancer in Males: Symptoms, Remedies, and Risk Predictors
In a startling revelation, new research suggests that men are more likely to develop kidney cancer than women. This gender disparity is believed to be a result of a complex interplay between biological, behavioral, and environmental factors.
Kidney cancers arise due to genetic mutations that make kidney cells grow abnormally. Key culprits include mutations in the VHL gene, as well as risk factors such as smoking, obesity, high blood pressure, and occupational exposures to carcinogens.
Men, it seems, have a higher exposure to these known risk factors. For instance, smoking-related cancer fractions are higher among males, correlating with higher kidney cancer rates. Similarly, men generally engage less in preventive healthcare, leading to later diagnoses and potentially worse outcomes.
Biological and hormonal influences also play a role. Estrogen, present in higher quantities in women, may provide a protective effect through reno-protective and vaso-protective mechanisms, contributing to a lower incidence in women.
Occupation and environmental exposure also contribute to the disparity. Men, often holding jobs with contact to carcinogens and hazardous chemicals, may have a higher risk due to their work environments.
These factors combined lead to the observed higher incidence and mortality rates of kidney cancer in men compared to women globally and in specific populations, with the highest mortality rates observed among White men in the U.S.
It's important to note that kidney cancer affects more than 41,000 men and 24,000 women annually worldwide. Genetic differences between the sexes could contribute to the disparities in the genetic mutations causing kidney cancer.
Other risk factors for developing kidney cancer include a family history of the disease, certain medications, advanced kidney disease, genetic and hereditary risk factors, and some hereditary syndromes. Interestingly, females who have had a hysterectomy may have an increased risk of developing kidney cancer.
Symptoms of kidney cancer include blood in the urine, a lump or swelling in the abdomen, pain in the lower back or side, a feeling of fullness in the side or flanks, fatigue, persistent fever, appetite loss, unexplained weight loss, a feeling that something is blocking the bowels, and general malaise.
The 5-year relative survival rate for kidney cancer in the United States is 76%. This rate varies depending on the stage of cancer at diagnosis. For localised kidney cancer, the 5-year survival rate is 93%. For regional kidney cancer, the rate is 71%. For distant kidney cancer, the rate is 14%.
Treatment options for kidney cancer include partial nephrectomy, simple nephrectomy, radical nephrectomy, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, and immunotherapy. While men may experience more complications from nephrectomies, they may respond better to other treatments like tyrosine kinase inhibitors and immune checkpoint inhibitors.
Intriguingly, estrogen levels may help prevent kidney cancer in women. However, medications for hypertension, a known risk factor for kidney cancer and kidney disease, may increase the risk.
In conclusion, while men are more likely to develop kidney cancer, the reasons for this difference remain unclear. Further research is needed to fully understand the complex interplay of factors contributing to this gender disparity.
- Men, due to a higher exposure to known risk factors, have a higher likelihood of developing kidney cancer compared to women.
- Biological and hormonal influences might be responsible for the lower incidence of kidney cancer in women, as higher estrogen levels may provide protection.
- Occupational and environmental exposures also contribute to the disparity, as men, who often hold jobs with contact to carcinogens and hazardous chemicals, may have a higher risk.
- Genetic differences between the sexes could contribute to the disparities in the genetic mutations causing kidney cancer.
- Kidney cancer affects more than 41,000 men and 24,000 women annually worldwide, with chronic diseases and cancer being significant health-and-wellness concerns.
- Symptoms of kidney cancer include various signs such as blood in the urine, pain, swelling, and general malaise.
- Treatment for kidney cancer can involve nephrectomies, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, and immunotherapy, with potential differences in responses between men and women.
