question when deciding to donate

[hopingtodonate]

Hello,  I imagine this is covered somewhere on this site but I just wanted to throw this out there.  So I am very serious about donating a kidney if I am accepted.  Now assuming that many donors think through a lot of information and questions when making their decision; what thoughts do you have on the scenario that you have one kidney after donation and later on are told that you have kidney cancer in the one you have left.  I suppose it could be other medical conditions too but cancer just seems to be everywhere and at any age.  Any thoughts or perspectives to share?  Thanks!

[elephant]

Dear hoping,

I have never heard that individuals with a single kidney, from birth, accident, or donation have a higher incidence of kidney cancer than the rest of the population. 

Major risk factors for kidney cancer are smoking and obesity.  Smoking and obesity will exclude a prospective donor. It would be a bad idea for a donor to smoke or become obese post-donation. 

Both donor kidneys are scanned prior to donation, hopefully any existing tumor would be found.

Therefore, kidney donors probably would have a lower rate of kidney cancer than the average.

Under the current allocation systems, donors have a higher priority than non-donors for kidney transplants. 

Love, elephant

[hopingtodonate]

Thank you so much for the information and perspective.  The scenario went through my mind of someone with two kidneys finding out that they have cancer in one kidney so it would be removed and they would still have one healthy (hopefully) kidney left.  But if you only have one to begin with...
Statistically I don't know the odds of getting kidney cancer (haven't searched for that yet) or if you have kidney cancer in one kidney would it be likely it may be in both kidneys?  I don't want to live life saying "what if" about everything-if so, we wouldn't go anywhere or do anything. Sometimes when researching lkd I think the whole thing (donation) could be a big deal and other times I think it's not that big of a deal-like don't over think it so much-does that make sense?  When I read or listen to all the people who have gone through this successfully and with the knowledge that the specialists have performed this surgery thousands of times I think to myself-lighten up-you'd be fine.  Of course the focus of lkd and the purpose is on a sick person being able to feel well and live well with the donated kidney but I'm only human-having surgery and all that goes with it must activate a self preservation instinct or something! lol!