Blood in urine does not always mean cancer. It is important to avoid misconceptions about kidney cancer, know the opinion of doctors.

New Delhi . Kidney cancer has become a rapidly increasing serious health problem across the world. It is considered to be the 14th most common cancer at the global level, in which lakhs of new cases are reported every year and a large number of people also die (Deaths of a large number of people). Its cases are seen more in men, elderly people and developed countries, but experts say that this disease is not limited to these classes only.

According to health experts, if kidney cancer is detected timely, the patient’s life can be saved through surgery, therapy and other modern treatments. The problem is that in most cases it is detected when the disease is too advanced, making treatment difficult.

There are many misconceptions spread in the society regarding kidney cancer, which can become a hindrance in its timely diagnosis and treatment. A common belief is that this disease affects only the elderly, but according to doctors, this is not completely true. Although its risk increases with increasing age, its cases are also being seen in youth. Research suggests that this disease can be found in about one third of cases under the age of 50. Bad lifestyle, smoking, alcohol consumption, genetic factors and pre-existing kidney diseases can be the main reasons for this.

Another common myth is that blood in the urine is always a sign of kidney cancer. Experts say that this symptom can also be seen in many other diseases, like UTI or infection. However, if the color of urine appears red, burgundy or dark for several days, then it should not be taken lightly and medical examination should be done immediately.

There is also a misconception regarding gender that women are more at risk of kidney cancer, whereas the reality is the opposite. Its risk in men has been found to be almost double that of women. One reason for this is also believed to be smoking and exposure to harmful chemicals at the workplace. However, women suffering from frequent UTIs or infections should also keep getting regular health checkups done.

Apart from this, it is also a myth that alcohol consumption only harms the liver and not the kidneys. According to doctors, both alcohol and smoking are major risk factors for kidney cancer. These habits increase the chances of developing cancer by damaging the body cells. According to estimates, these habits may account for about 30 percent of kidney cancer cases in men and about 25 percent of kidney cancer cases in women.

Experts say that awareness is the most important step to prevent kidney cancer. Healthy lifestyle, abstinence from smoking and alcohol, regular health checkups and not ignoring the early symptoms can reduce the risk of this disease to a great extent. This serious disease can be controlled by timely identification and treatment.