Information on Kidney Cancer

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. 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. Their job is to filter water, impurities and waste material from the blood and to produce urine. 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. The increased risk seems to be related to the amount you smoke. 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. The DNA that you inherit from your parents may have certain changes that account for this tendency to develop 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.