| Because five-year survival rates increase | | | | symptoms, it can often be a good indicator for |
| significantly in patients who are diagnosed early, | | | | the disease. |
| detection of kidney cancer symptoms is critical. | | | | Risk Factors and Causes of Kidney Cancer |
| Because early diagnosis is so critical to improving | | | | Smoking: Smoking is the cause of 30% of renal |
| survival rates, those at risk for the disease need | | | | cell carcinoma (common kidney cancer) cases in |
| to be able to recognize kidney cancer symptoms. | | | | male smokers and 25% of cases in women. |
| If you're curious about whether you're at risk for | | | | Analgesic Abuse: Overusing and abusing pain killers |
| this cancer and any potential signs or symptoms | | | | that contain phenactin (no longer prescribed in the |
| you should watch out for, keep reading. | | | | U.S.) can increase the risk for kidney cancer. |
| Symptoms of Kidney Cancer | | | | Exposure at the Work Place: Workers who are |
| Blood in the Urine (hematuria): Blood in the urine is | | | | exposed to products like organic solvents, |
| the most common of all the kidney cancer | | | | petroleum by-products, camium and asbestos all |
| symptoms. | | | | have an increased risk for developing kidney |
| Lower Back Pain: Many kidney cancer patients | | | | cancer. |
| complain of a lower back that's unrelated to an | | | | Genetic Disorders: Genetic disorders of the |
| injury or other causes. | | | | kidney, such as tuberous sclerosis, von |
| Lump or Bump: In many kidney cancer cases, a | | | | Hippel-Lindau disease or a heavy family history of |
| mass or lump can be felt in the stomach. | | | | the disease can all increase a person's risk for |
| Fatigue: Fatigue is a common symptom of many | | | | developing kidney cancer. |
| kidney cancer patients. They feel weak, lethargic | | | | Obesity: People who are obese or very |
| and unable to maintain high energy levels. | | | | overweight are more at risk for developing renal |
| Unfortunately, this is a very general symptom | | | | cell kidney cancer than those who maintain a |
| associated with numerous diseases. | | | | healthy body weight. |
| Loss of Appetite: Unintentional weight loss that | | | | Kidney Failure: People with a history of kidney |
| happens quickly can be a symptom of kidney | | | | failures may develop cysts in their kidneys as a |
| cancer. Many patients lose their appetites, have | | | | result. These cysts can expedite the development |
| trouble eating and digesting, and tend to lose | | | | of kidney cancer. |
| weight quickly. | | | | Advancing Age: Typically, renal cell carcinoma only |
| Frequent Fevers: Fevers that are consistent, | | | | develops in adults over the age of fifty and under |
| frequent and not connected to other infections | | | | seventy. |
| (like a flu) can be a symptom of kidney cancer. | | | | Gender: RCC (renal cell carcinoma) kidney cancer |
| Swelling: Swelling in the legs and ankles (also | | | | is twice as common in men than women. |
| known as edema) is a common kidney cancer | | | | If any of the listed risk factors apply to you, be |
| symptom. | | | | sure to keep a watchful eye out for potential |
| Higher Blood Pressure: Like many of the other | | | | kidney cancer symptoms. Should any start |
| symptoms listed above, high blood pressure can | | | | presenting themselves, consult your physician |
| be attributed to numerous other diseases. | | | | immediately. |
| However, if discovered alongside other | | | | |