Kidney Cancer

Kidney cancer is cancer that begins in the kidneys. The kidneys are part of the urinary system of the body that filter waste from the blood in the urine. Kidney cancer starts in the cells of the kidney. The two kidneys are located on both sides of the spine at the bottom of the upper abdomen and protected by the lower ribs. Their job is to filter water, impurities and waste from the blood and produce urine. The urine from each kidney to the bladder through tubes called ureters. At its inception, kidney cancer usually causes no obvious signs or troublesome symptoms.

As a kidney tumor grows, symptoms may occur. These may include blood in the urine. In many cases, the blood is visible. In many additional cases, traces of blood found in a urinalysis, a lab test often performed as part of a regular medical check. Other less common symptoms may include fatigue, loss of appetite, weight loss, recurrent fever, and pain in the side that does not disappear. High blood pressure or a lower than normal number of red blood cells in the blood (anemia) may also signal a kidney tumor. These symptoms occur less often. The causes of kidney cancer are unknown. There are certain factors that may increase the risk.

Smoking increases the risk of developing renal cell carcinoma. The increased risk appears to be related to the amount you smoke. Mild painkillers such as overuse of painkillers containing phenacetin. This chemical is not used in modern painkillers. However, people who took painkillers containing phenacetin in large quantities before it is prohibited may be influenced. People who are overweight have a higher risk of developing renal cell cancer. Obesity is a factor in about 2 out of 10 people who receive this type of cancer. Obesity can cause changes in certain hormones that can lead to renal cell carcinoma.

Exposure to asbestos or cadmium applies to many people who have been exposed to these substances in their jobs. Some people inherit a tendency to growth of certain types of cancer. The DNA that you inherit from your parents may have some changes that reflect this tendency to develop cancer. Kidney cancer may be caused by certain rare hereditary conditions. People who have these conditions have a much higher risk for kidney cancer, although they represent only a small portion of all cases. Treatment of kidney cancer depends on stage of cancer. Surgery is the initial treatment for most cancers of the kidney.

The surgical procedures used to treat kidney cancer include removing the whole kidney (nephrectomy). Surgery to remove part of your kidney (partial nephrectomy) means that the surgeon removed the diseased kidney. It's better for people who have kidney cancer in both kidneys, have only one functioning kidney or for some patients with small cancers. biological treatment increases the ability of your body fight against cancer. Interferon and interleukin have been used to treat some kidney cancers. Although they are "natural" substances, they can sometimes cause serious side effects.