Kidney cancer symptoms, treatments and risk factors associated with it

The kidneys are two small bean-shaped organs, just underneath the ribcage located on either side of the body. The main role of the kidneys is to filter out waste products from the blood and to produce urine. Usually, cancer affects only one kidney. When the growth, maturity and division of normal cells are deranged and there is uncontrolled proliferation of the cells to form a tumor cancer occurs. Risk factors for kidney cancer

Several risk factors have been identified. The risk factors include:

• Obesity
• Smoking
• Long-term dialysis
• Tuberous sclerosis
• High blood pressure
• Renal transplant recipients
• Acquired renal cystic disease

Cancers that are inherited and run in families are multiple, and affect both kidneys and occur at an earlier age than others. However, 2% of cases may affect both kidneys as well.

Signs and symptoms:
One of the early symptoms includes pain under the ribs, presence of blood in urine, and in the flanks and feeling a lump within the abdomen. Especially in early stages and around half of the cases these symptoms may be absent and the cancer may be detected during tests for other unrelated conditions.

Types of:
There are a number of different types of cancer than can affect the kidneys. The type renal cell carcinoma (RCC), accounts for more than 80% of all kidney cancers. Transitional cell cancers that develop in the lining of the kidneys and affects middle aged persons are other types.

Treatment:
The treatment of kidney cancer depends on the stage of the cancer and its spread to other organs. Surgery is the first course of action and involves removal of the tumor as a whole. Chemotherapy is not very effective in treating kidney cancer. Targeted drug therapy and radiation therapies are used when the kidney cancer is advanced and has spread beyond the kidney.

Prognosis:
The prognosis or outlook of kidney cancer is good if the cancer is detected at an early stage when it is still confined within the kidney. This is because removal of the cancer at this stage is possible with surgery. In most cases only one kidney is affected and it is possible to live a healthy life with only one kidney. One third of all kidney cancers are detected at an early stage. 65-90% of people will live at least five years after receiving an early diagnosis of kidney cancer and many live much longer. For those detected at more advanced stages 40-70% will live at least five years after receiving a diagnosis. If the kidney cancer is advanced and spread to other parts of the body, a chance of survival for fivers is around 10%.