Living with a disease like cancer can leave you distraught, both emotionally and physically. Though renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is treatable, malignant cells might spread through the body. Further, with the progression of the disease, you might experience symptoms, such as weight loss, constant body ache, and fatigue.
So, can this disease be prevented? Let’s find out.
Tips to prevent renal cancer
There’s no study that proves 100% prevention of renal or any other form of cancer. However, certain factors increase the risk of RCC. If you keep a check on these factors daily, you can reduce your chances of acquiring the disease.
Eat a healthy and balanced diet
The most crucial lifestyle tip to prevent renal cancer is eating a healthy and balanced diet. Consume plenty of fruits and vegetables daily. These are rich in vitamins, nutrients, and essential antioxidants and can strengthen your immune system and prevent the risk of cancer. Include healthy fats in your diets, such as whole grains, avocado, olive oil, and leafy green vegetables.
Quit smoking
When you smoke, certain toxic chemicals are introduced into your body. This amplifies the job of the kidney, as it now has to filter out these toxins from the blood. As a result, you are more susceptible to getting cancer, and the performance and efficiency of your kidneys are hampered. After you quit smoking, your body will automatically repair itself.
Exercise every day
If you wish to keep cancer at bay, you need to adopt a more active lifestyle. Exercising has a bunch of benefits. When you exercise regularly:
- Your stamina is improved
- You feel more positive
- Your body gets stronger
- Your immune system gets better
You can pick an activity that you can perform every day, such as swimming, brisk walking, biking, yoga, aerobics, dance, or anything that you are most comfortable doing.
Avoid excess salt
If you consume a lot of salt every day, you are at a higher risk of issues like high blood pressure. It will also hamper the fluid balance in your body. As a result, your kidney can suffer. To avoid this, you should reduce the intake of processed foods as much as possible, as they have high sodium content. It is best to replace salt with herbs or spices for flavoring. If you are using any exotic herb, it is best to consult your healthcare provider before adding it to your diet.
Some food items that have a high salt content include:
- Junk food
- Canned food
- Salty chips or snacks
- Deli meats
It is advised to avoid these foods as much as possible.