Kidney cancer, or renal cell carcinoma, happens when kidney cells turn malignant. They form tumors, mostly in the kidney tubules. Some things that make you more likely to get kidney cancer are smoking, being male, and obesity. Other risks include taking certain pain meds for a long time, having advanced kidney disease, or using dialysis.
Family history and certain genetic conditions also play a part. Exposure to certain chemicals, high blood pressure, and having had lymphoma can up your risk too.
The signs of kidney cancer can be varied. They might have blood in the urine, or feel a lump in the side or belly. Losing interest in food, feeling pain in the side, and losing weight without trying are other symptoms.
You might also have a fever, feel tired more than usual, or have swollen ankles or legs. If you have anemia, that can be a clue too.
To diagnose kidney cancer, doctors will check your health history and symptoms. They’ll also do urine and blood tests, along with imaging tests like CT scans and MRIs. A biopsy, where they take a small tissue sample, is often needed to confirm it.
Treatment for kidney cancer depends on how far it has spread. Surgery is usually the first choice. But doctors are looking into using stem cell therapy to fight this disease too.
Key Takeaways:
- Kidney cancer, or renal cell carcinoma, is a disease where kidney cells become malignant and form tumors.
- Common risk factors for kidney cancer include smoking, being male, obesity, certain medications, advanced kidney disease, genetic conditions, family history, exposure to certain chemicals, high blood pressure, and lymphoma.
- Symptoms of kidney cancer may include blood in the urine, a lump in the side or abdomen, loss of appetite, persistent pain, unexplained weight loss, fever, fatigue, anemia, and swelling in the ankles or legs.
- Diagnosis of kidney cancer involves a physical exam, health history, and various tests such as urine tests, blood tests, imaging tests, and biopsies.
- Surgery is the main treatment for kidney cancer, and stem cell therapy is being explored as a potential treatment option.
Risk Factors and Symptoms of Kidney Cancer
Kidney cancer is a serious illness with many risks and symptoms. Knowing about them helps detect it early. Kidney cancer causes are connected to several things:
- Smoking: Smoking raises the risk.
- Gender: Men are more at risk.
- Obesity: Being obese increases your risk.
- Long-term use of certain pain medications: Using some pain meds for a long time can be risky.
- Advanced kidney disease or dialysis: It’s more common in people with severe kidney issues or on dialysis.
- Genetic conditions: Certain genetic problems make it more likely.
- Exposure to certain chemicals: Working with certain chemicals can also increase the risk.
- High blood pressure: It’s a risk factor too.
- Having lymphoma: Those who had lymphoma face a higher risk.
Even if you have these risk factors, you may not get kidney cancer.
The symptoms of kidney cancer can differ and include:
- Blood in the urine (hematuria)
- A lump in the side or abdomen
- Loss of appetite
- Persistent pain in the side
- Unexplained weight loss
- Fever
- Fatigue
- Anemia
- Swelling in the ankles or legs
Early kidney cancer doesn’t always show these signs. That’s why seeing your doctor for regular check-ups is vital. If you notice any symptoms, see a doctor for a check-up right away.
| Risk Factors | Symptoms |
|---|---|
| Smoking | Blood in the urine |
| Gender (men) | A lump in the side or abdomen |
| Obesity | Loss of appetite |
| Long-term use of certain pain medications | Persistent pain in the side |
| Advanced kidney disease or dialysis | Unexplained weight loss |
| Genetic conditions | Fever |
| Exposure to certain chemicals | Fatigue |
| High blood pressure | Anemia |
| Having lymphoma | Swelling in the ankles or legs |
Diagnosis and Treatment of Kidney Cancer
Finding kidney cancer means a detailed check. Doctors start with a physical exam and look at your history. They also run tests to be sure. These tests could be:
- Urine tests: They check your urine for blood or other signs of cancer.
- Blood tests: Doctors look at your blood to see how your kidneys are working. They also look for signs of cancer.
- Imaging tests: Tests like CT scans and MRIs make pictures of your kidneys. They show how big the tumor is and where it is.
- Biopsies: A biopsy takes a small piece of the tumor for testing. This helps confirm if it’s cancer and what type.
After the diagnosis, the next step is deciding how to treat the cancer. Treatment depends on the cancer’s stage and your health. Surgery is often the main way to treat kidney cancer. There are different types of surgeries like radical nephrectomy and partial nephrectomy.
In a radical nephrectomy, surgeons remove the whole kidney, tissue around it, and nearby lymph nodes. For some, a partial nephrectomy is possible. This means cutting out only the tumor and a bit of healthy tissue.
But surgery isn’t the only option. There are other treatments too:
- Cryotherapy: Doctors freeze the cancer cells to kill them.
- Radiofrequency ablation: They use heat to burn and destroy cancer cells.
- Arterial embolization: This method blocks the blood flow to the tumor to make it smaller and less painful.
- Biologic therapy: Medicines that help your immune system fight the cancer are sometimes used.
- Targeted therapy: Drugs that aim at specific parts of cancer cells can slow their growth.
There’s also hope in stem cell therapy. Research is looking at how stem cells might help repair damaged kidney tissue and stop cancer cell growth.
Treatment choices consider a lot of things. This includes cancer’s stage, your health, and what you want. Talking with a team of healthcare experts is key to finding the best treatment for you.
Conclusion
Kidney cancer, or renal cell carcinoma, starts in kidney cells. Smoking, being male, and obesity can raise the risk. So can long-term use of certain drugs. Advanced kidney disease, genetic conditions, and family history are other key risk factors.
Diagnosing kidney cancer involves many steps. It starts with a health history and physical exam. Urine and blood tests, imaging, and biopsies help find the cancer’s stage. This helps plan the right treatment.
Treatment may include surgery, radiofrequency or cryotherapy. Blood vessel-blocking (arterial) embolization or biologic therapy are possible. For some, targeted therapy or stem cell therapy might also be options.
Stem cell therapy is still in early research for kidney cancer. Scientists are studying how it might help. They look at how stem cells could better treat the cancer.
Regular check-ups and screenings are key. They help find kidney cancer early. This leads to better chances for successful treatment.