Kidney Cancer; Symptoms, Causes, Treatment And Preventions

mmmmKidney cancer is cancer that originates in the kidneys. Your kidneys are two bean-shaped organs, each about the size of your fist. They’re located behind your abdominal organs, with one kidney on each side of your spine.

In adults, the most common type of kidney cancer is renal cell carcinoma. Other less common types of kidney cancer can occur. Young children are more likely to develop a kind of kidney cancer called Wilms’ tumor.

Symptoms
Kidney cancer rarely causes signs or symptoms in its early stages. In the later stages, kidney cancer signs and symptoms may include:

Blood in your urine, which may appear pink, red or cola colored

Back pain just below the ribs that doesn’t go away

Weight loss

Fatigue

Intermittent fever

When to see a doctor
Make an appointment with your doctor if you have any persistent signs or symptoms that worry you.

Causes
It is not clear what causes renal cell carcinoma. Doctors know that kidney cancer begins when some kidney cells acquire mutations in their DNA. The mutations tell the cells to grow and divide rapidly. The accumulating abnormal cells form a tumor that can extend beyond the kidney. Some cells can break off and spread (metastasize) to distant parts of the body.

Treatments
The best approach for you may depend on a number of factors, including your general health, the kind of kidney cancer you have, whether the cancer has spread and your preferences for treatment. They include
1. Surgery

2. Treatment to freeze cancer cell

3. Treatment to heat cancer cells (radiofrequency ablation).

4. Drugs that use your immune system to fight cancer (biological therapy)

5. Radiation therapy.

Prevention
Taking steps to improve your health may help reduce your risk of kidney cancer. To reduce your risk, try to:

Quit smoking. If you smoke, quit. Many options for quitting exist, including support programs, medications and nicotine replacement products. Tell your doctor you want to quit, and discuss your options together.

Eat more fruits and vegetables. Add more fruits and vegetables to your diet. A variety of fruits and vegetables helps ensure that you’re getting all the nutrients you need.

Maintain a healthy weight. Work to maintain a healthy weight. If you’re overweight or obese, reduce the number of calories you consume each day and try to exercise most days of the week. Ask your doctor about other healthy strategies to help you lose weight.

Control high blood pressure. Ask your doctor to check your blood pressure at your next appointment. If your blood pressure is high, you can discuss options for lowering your numbers. Lifestyle measures such as exercise, weight loss and diet changes can help. Some people may need to add medications to lower their blood pressure. Discuss your options with your doctor.