4 significant things to know about kidney cancer

Kidney cancer or renal cancer is one of the most common types of cancers that women and men in the nation suffer from today. Amongst all the types of kidney cancers, renal cell carcinoma (RCC) happens to be one of the most common types observed these days. The good news is that most of the times, kidney cancer is detected in patients before it progresses and turns into metastatic renal cancer, or in other words, before it spreads to other organs that are in the proximity of the kidney.

What are kidney lumps and are they a sign of kidney cancer?

• One of the characteristics of renal cell carcinoma is the development of an abdominal mass in the abdomen, sides or the back of an individual.
• Unfortunately, as the kidney is located deep inside the abdomen, it is often difficult to detect the symptoms of kidney cancer as they are not evident, especially in the initial stages of kidney cancer.
• About 45% of the people who suffer from RCC experience thick and hard lump formation around their abdomen.
• The doctor might perform an ultrasound or a CT scan to diagnose the disease and later come to a conclusion through a biopsy.

Is weight loss one of the signs of kidney cancer?

• Yes, sudden and drastic weight loss is one of the signs that indicate if a person probably has kidney cancer.
• Typically, as the tumor starts to spread from the kidney to other organs in the vicinity, people start experiencing a sudden loss of appetite which may be one of the main factors that contribute to the sudden weight loss.
• Another common sign of kidney cancer that accompanies weight loss and loss of appetite is an unexplained recurring fever. The fever is observed to worsen the health of the person who is suffering from kidney cancer.

W hat are some popular kidney cancer treatments?

• The choice of the kidney cancer treatment depends on the type and stage of kidney cancer, and the overall health of the patient.
• Surgery happens to be one of the primary treatment methods through which doctors get rid of the tumor in the kidneys.
• The surgery is often accompanied by other complementary treatment methods, as many times, surgery is not able to completely wipe off the cancer cells from the body.
• In the case of patients who cannot opt for surgery, radiation therapy is one of the best options. In this treatment method, high energy X-rays or other radiations are used to destroy the cancer cells or at least pause their growth and multiplication.
• Chemotherapy and targeted drug therapy are two other popular treatment options that doctors might recommend for kidney cancer patients.

Can one prevent kidney cancer?

• Though one cannot succeed in completely evading the disease, they can try to reduce their chances of developing the disease.
• One of the best ways to prevent kidney cancer is to stop smoking as smoking happens to be one of the primary reasons why many people end up getting diagnosed with kidney cancer.
• Another way of preventing kidney cancer is by maintaining a steady and healthy weight as obesity is believed to be another common risk factor linked with renal cancer.
• By getting proper treatment for high blood pressure and by avoiding overexposure to industrial chemicals, one can further lower their risk of developing renal cancer.

If someone experiences any of the signs often associated with kidney cancer, they shouldn’t brush it off and must see their doctor immediately. By proper kidney cancer treatment and medications, and by some positive alterations in one’s lifestyle, one can easily manage and control kidney cancer.

Tag: signs of kidney cancer, kidney cancer medications