| Kidney cancer is defined as a type of cancer that | | | | hormones like renin, erythropoietin and calcitriol. |
| has risen from the kidney. It doesn't usually | | | | When a tumor (abnormal growth of body tissue) |
| encompass metastatic cancer of the kidney (a | | | | develops in the kidney, it disrupts its normal |
| type of cancer arising from outside the kidney | | | | functions. Tumors, whether malignant (cancerous) |
| and then spreading into it) but it there have been | | | | or benign (non-cancerous), can appear when the |
| cases where it became secondary. | | | | body starts experiencing problems in cell division. |
| Cancer of the kidney can be divided into two | | | | As we all know, division of cells in the body is |
| common types - urothelial cell carcinoma or UCC | | | | strictly controlled. New cells come to replace older |
| and renal cell carcinoma or RCC of the renal | | | | ones and old as well as damaged cells die to |
| pelvis. The two are based on their location inside | | | | make room for healthy replacements. When this |
| the kidney. Distinction between the UCC and RCC | | | | process becomes abnormal, a tumor has |
| types are important due to prognosis staging and | | | | developed. If the tumor is malignant, it develops |
| management of the condition. This is since | | | | into kidney cancer. |
| treatment like surgery, chemotherapy and others | | | | Even if tumors can be removed these days, |
| can vary in these two types. | | | | there is still a possibility that they'll come back - |
| Though there are cases wherein no symptoms | | | | depending on the type of tumor. Benign tumors |
| and signs are present, the common symptoms | | | | are not life-threatening and they don't come back |
| and signs of kidney cancer are hydronephrosis, | | | | once removed. This is because the cells from |
| hematuria and palpable mass in the abdomen (the | | | | benign tumors don't spread to other parts of the |
| most common). The palpable mass usually | | | | body. Kidney tumors that are malignant are the |
| presents itself initially along the anterior lumbar | | | | ones that result to kidney cancer. When |
| region, in-between the margins of the crista ilii and | | | | removed, they can grow again; they can damage; |
| the ribs. Then, it grows forward towards the | | | | and they can go to other tissues as well as |
| umbilicus and up to the hypochondrium. Then, it | | | | organs. Aside from infecting its pair, they can also |
| goes down to the iliac and the inguinal regions. | | | | join the bloodstream or the lymphatic system. It |
| During extreme cases, it can fill the whole belly. | | | | can also spread to the lungs, liver or bones. |
| Since the colon and a part of the small intestines | | | | Usual treatment of kidney tumor or even kidney |
| are positioned in front of it, the colons position can | | | | cancer is surgery. However, once the tumor or |
| furnish a vital role as a diagnostic mark of all | | | | cancer cells have spread to other organs in the |
| types of kidney cancers. | | | | body, surgery may no longer be a practical option. |
| With the common use of dialysis today - a | | | | This is why it's important to care for your |
| process that substitutes the functionality of the | | | | kidneys as early as now. This can help you avoid |
| kidney, people are beginning to realize the vital the | | | | expensive costs of dialysis, kidney transplant and |
| role of kidneys in the body. Aside from playing an | | | | possible death. Avoid or quit smoking, eat small |
| essential role in the urinary system, they also | | | | portions of fish, cereals, lean meats and grain |
| provide homeostatic functions like in regulating | | | | breads as well as low-fat dairy products, fruits |
| electrolytes, maintaining acid-base balance and | | | | and vegetables everyday. Maintain a healthy |
| regulating blood pressure. They also excrete | | | | weight and indulge in physical activity. They're not |
| wastes like ammonium and urea. They're also | | | | only very important for the kidneys; they're also |
| responsible for water, amino acids and glucose | | | | good for the lungs, heart and feet. |
| reabsorption. Last but not the least; they produce | | | | |