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Kidney cancer is a type of cancer that forms in tissues of the kidneys. There are several types of kidney cancer including renal cell carcinoma, renal pelvis carcinoma, and Wilms tumor. Renal cell carcinoma is a cancer that forms in the lining of the nephrons—the very small tubes in the kidney that filter the blood and remove wastes. It is the most common type of kidney cancer occurring in adults.

Renal cell carcinoma is also known as renal adenocarcinoma or hypernephroma. Renal pelvis carcinoma affects the renal pelvis of the kidney. The renal pelvis is the located in the center of the kidney where urine collects. Wilms tumor is a type of kidney cancer that commonly develops in children under the age of 5.

The National Cancer Institute in the US estimates that in 2009, there will be more than 49,000 new cases of kidney cancer (renal cell and renal pelvis carcinomas) in the United States.

What are the causes of kidney cancer?

Until now, experts are still unsure why a certain person develops kidney cancer while another person does not. However, studies have shown that people with risk factors are more likely than others to develop the disease. A risk factor, according to the National Cancer Institute, is anything that increases a person’s chance of developing a disease. Kidney cancer is not contagious. Researchers believe that kidney cancer can not be spread to other people.

What are the risk factors for kidney cancer?

Researchers have found several risk factors that may increase a person’s chance to develop kidney cancer, which include

 Smoking

 Obesity

 High blood pressure

 People undergoing long-term dialysis

 People with a rare condition called Von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) syndrome

 Occupational risk factors: Some people have a higher risk of getting kidney cancer because they come in contact with certain chemicals or substances in their workplace.

 Gender. Males are more likely to develop kidney cancer than females. According to the National Cancer Institute, kidney cancer affects about 20,000 men and 12,000 women in the United States each year.

Most people who have these risk factors do not get kidney cancer. On the other hand, most people who do get the disease have no known risk factors. People who think they may be at risk should discuss this concern with their doctor. The doctor may be able to suggest ways to reduce the risk and can plan an appropriate schedule for checkups.

What are the signs or symptoms of kidney cancer?

A person with kidney cancer may not have symptoms during the very early stage of the disease. Signs or symptoms of kidney cancer may include:

 Blood in the urine (hematuria)

 Pain in the side that does not go away

 A lump or mass in the side or the abdomen

 Unexplained weight loss

 Fever

 Feeling very tired or having a general feeling of poor health

Often, these signs or symptoms do not mean that a person has kidney cancer. They may be signs of another health problem or condition. A person with any of these symptoms should see a doctor so that any problem can be diagnosed and treated as early as possible.

Kidney Cancer Treatment

Related Questions: How is kidney cancer treated? What is the treatment for kidney cancer?

Treatment of kidney cancer depends on the stage of cancer, whether cancer has spread to other organs, and the person’s general health and age. The earlier kidney cancer has been detected, the better the chances of survival. There are several kidney cancer treatment options, which a doctor can recommend or discuss with the patient. Treatment options may include surgery, radiation, chemotherapy or biologic therapy. Biologic therapy boosts your body's own ability to fight cancer.

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Kidney disease can mean any disease or disorder affecting the kidney, such as kidney cancer and kidney infection. Sometimes, it is the term used to denote kidney failure.

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Resources:
Kidney Cancer (n.d.). National Cancer Institute (NCI), National Institutes of Health (NIH) http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/types/kidney (Accessed on October 21, 2009)

Kidney Cancer (September 2009). MedlinePlus. National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health (NIH). http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/kidneycancer.html (Accessed on October 21, 2009)

What You Need To Know About™: Kidney Cancer (March 2004). National Cancer Institute (NCI), National Institutes of Health (NIH). http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/wyntk/kidney (Accessed on October 21, 2009)

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