Kidney cancer is a cancer that begins in the kidneys. The kidneys are part of the body’s urinary system, which filters waste products out of the blood in the form of urine. Kidney cancer starts in the cells of the kidney. The two kidneys are found on either side of the backbone, deep inside the upper part of the abdomen and protected by the lower ribs. Urine passes from each kidney to the bladder through tubes called the ureters. In its early stages, kidney cancer usually causes no obvious signs or troublesome symptoms.
As a kidney tumor grows, symptoms may occur. These may comprise blood in the urine. In several cases, blood is visible. In additional instances, traces of blood are noticed in a urinalysis, a lab test frequently performed as part of a regular medical checkup. Other less common symptoms may include tiredness, loss of appetite, weight loss, recurrent fevers, and pain in the side that doesn't go away. High blood pressure or a lower than normal number of red 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 some factors that may increase the risk.
Smoking increases the risk of developing renal cell carcinoma. Mild pain-killing drugs 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 was banned may still be affected. People who are very overweight have a higher risk of developing renal cell cancer. Obesity is a factor in about 2 out of 10 people who get this cancer. Obesity may cause changes in certain hormones that can lead to renal cell carcinoma.
Exposure to asbestos or cadmium applies to many people who were exposed to these substances in their jobs. Some people inherit a tendency to grow certain types of cancer. Kidney cancer can be caused by some rare inherited conditions. People who have these conditions have a much higher risk for getting kidney cancer, although they account for only a small portion of cases overall. Treatment for kidney cancer will depend on the stage of the cancer. Surgery is the initial treatment for the majority of kidney cancers.
Surgical procedures used to treat kidney cancer include remove the whole kidney (radical nephrectomy). Surgery to remove part of your kidney (partial nephrectomy) means that the surgeon will only take away the diseased part of the kidney. This is best for people who have renal cell carcinoma in both kidneys, have only one functioning kidney or for some patients with small cancers. Biologic therapy boosts your body's own ability to fight cancer. Interferon and interleukin have been used to treat some kidney cancers. While they are ‘natural' substances, they can sometimes cause severe side effects.
Kidney Cancer - Symptoms and Treatment for Kidney Cancer
Kidney cancer is a disease of the kidneys, the reddish-brown curving organs about the size of a small fist, located above the waist to either side of the spine.Kidney cancer starts in the cells of the kidney. In kidney cancer, cells grow unregulated by the signals that normally regulate cell growth and death, and form tumors.
Kidney cancer is a cancer that starts in the kidneys. In order to understand kidney cancer, it helps to know about the normal structure and function of the kidneys.
SymptomsHowever, as a kidney tumor grows, symptoms may occur. These may include:
Blood in the urine.
A lump or mass in the kidney area.
A mass in the area of the kidneys that's discovered during an examination
Other less common symptoms may include:
Fatigue;
Loss of appetite;
Weight loss;
Recurrent fevers;
A pain in the side that doesn't go away; and/or
A general feeling of poor health.
High blood pressure or a lower than normal number of red cells in the blood (anemia) may also signal a kidney tumor; however, these symptoms occur less often.
Treatment for Kidney Cancer
Surgery: Surgery is the most common treatment for renal cell carcinoma, although it may not be appropriate for every patient with this type of tumor. It is difficult to remove the entire tumor without removing the entire affected kidney, although this may be attempted in specific situations. Surgical removal of the primary tumor is usually recommended when the tumor remains contained within the kidney itself. It also may be used when the tumor extends to the nearby blood vessels or the lymph nodes in the region of the primary tumor (called local or regional lymph nodes). Immunotherapy. This treatment uses your body's immune system to fight cancer. An oncologist may administer a substance known as a biological response modifier, such as interferon or interleukin-2. Normally produced by the body, these substances are also made in laboratories. Studies show that people may do better when they're treated with both interferon and surgery.
Radical Nephrectomy: The surgical removal of the entire affected kidney, the tumor, the nearby adrenal gland, and regional lymph nodes is called radical nephrectomy There are usually 4 to 5 incisions that are approximately 1 inch in size. Through these multiple openings, the surgeon carefully removes the kidney. This approach has significantly improved the recovery process, though carries increased risk of complications. It requires specialized training of the surgeon, and though widely available throughout the United States, it is not as readily available as a standard, open nephrectomy.
Radiation Therapy: Radiation therapy, also called irradiation or radiotherapy, involves the use of high energy waves (500-1000 times the energy of a normal x-ray) to treat cancer. These invisible rays enter the body at a very specific point directed by a plan developed by the radiation oncologist. They disrupt the activity of any cells in their path, damaging or killing both healthy and cancerous cells.
As a kidney tumor grows, symptoms may occur. These may comprise blood in the urine. In several cases, blood is visible. In additional instances, traces of blood are noticed in a urinalysis, a lab test frequently performed as part of a regular medical checkup. Other less common symptoms may include tiredness, loss of appetite, weight loss, recurrent fevers, and pain in the side that doesn't go away. High blood pressure or a lower than normal number of red 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 some factors that may increase the risk.
Smoking increases the risk of developing renal cell carcinoma. Mild pain-killing drugs 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 was banned may still be affected. People who are very overweight have a higher risk of developing renal cell cancer. Obesity is a factor in about 2 out of 10 people who get this cancer. Obesity may cause changes in certain hormones that can lead to renal cell carcinoma.
Exposure to asbestos or cadmium applies to many people who were exposed to these substances in their jobs. Some people inherit a tendency to grow certain types of cancer. Kidney cancer can be caused by some rare inherited conditions. People who have these conditions have a much higher risk for getting kidney cancer, although they account for only a small portion of cases overall. Treatment for kidney cancer will depend on the stage of the cancer. Surgery is the initial treatment for the majority of kidney cancers.
Surgical procedures used to treat kidney cancer include remove the whole kidney (radical nephrectomy). Surgery to remove part of your kidney (partial nephrectomy) means that the surgeon will only take away the diseased part of the kidney. This is best for people who have renal cell carcinoma in both kidneys, have only one functioning kidney or for some patients with small cancers. Biologic therapy boosts your body's own ability to fight cancer. Interferon and interleukin have been used to treat some kidney cancers. While they are ‘natural' substances, they can sometimes cause severe side effects.
Kidney Cancer - Symptoms and Treatment for Kidney Cancer
Kidney cancer is a disease of the kidneys, the reddish-brown curving organs about the size of a small fist, located above the waist to either side of the spine.Kidney cancer starts in the cells of the kidney. In kidney cancer, cells grow unregulated by the signals that normally regulate cell growth and death, and form tumors.
Kidney cancer is a cancer that starts in the kidneys. In order to understand kidney cancer, it helps to know about the normal structure and function of the kidneys.
SymptomsHowever, as a kidney tumor grows, symptoms may occur. These may include:
Blood in the urine.
A lump or mass in the kidney area.
A mass in the area of the kidneys that's discovered during an examination
Other less common symptoms may include:
Fatigue;
Loss of appetite;
Weight loss;
Recurrent fevers;
A pain in the side that doesn't go away; and/or
A general feeling of poor health.
High blood pressure or a lower than normal number of red cells in the blood (anemia) may also signal a kidney tumor; however, these symptoms occur less often.
Treatment for Kidney Cancer
Surgery: Surgery is the most common treatment for renal cell carcinoma, although it may not be appropriate for every patient with this type of tumor. It is difficult to remove the entire tumor without removing the entire affected kidney, although this may be attempted in specific situations. Surgical removal of the primary tumor is usually recommended when the tumor remains contained within the kidney itself. It also may be used when the tumor extends to the nearby blood vessels or the lymph nodes in the region of the primary tumor (called local or regional lymph nodes). Immunotherapy. This treatment uses your body's immune system to fight cancer. An oncologist may administer a substance known as a biological response modifier, such as interferon or interleukin-2. Normally produced by the body, these substances are also made in laboratories. Studies show that people may do better when they're treated with both interferon and surgery.
Radical Nephrectomy: The surgical removal of the entire affected kidney, the tumor, the nearby adrenal gland, and regional lymph nodes is called radical nephrectomy There are usually 4 to 5 incisions that are approximately 1 inch in size. Through these multiple openings, the surgeon carefully removes the kidney. This approach has significantly improved the recovery process, though carries increased risk of complications. It requires specialized training of the surgeon, and though widely available throughout the United States, it is not as readily available as a standard, open nephrectomy.
Radiation Therapy: Radiation therapy, also called irradiation or radiotherapy, involves the use of high energy waves (500-1000 times the energy of a normal x-ray) to treat cancer. These invisible rays enter the body at a very specific point directed by a plan developed by the radiation oncologist. They disrupt the activity of any cells in their path, damaging or killing both healthy and cancerous cells.
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