| Kidney cancers are diagnosed in a million patients | | | | surgery with partial or complete kidney removal, |
| each year, though millions of people are affected | | | | though it is not truly cancerous it does cause |
| by kidney cancer. Kidney cancer is twice as | | | | significant damage and require immediate |
| common in men and accounts for 40-60 % of | | | | treatment. |
| new diagnoses. | | | | Papillary RCC is in 15% of kidney cancer cases |
| The most common form of kidney cancer is renal | | | | and though rare, it is increasing in African |
| cell carcinoma, also known as RCC. It accounts | | | | American patients and can affect both kidneys. |
| for 66-75% of all cases. In most cases the | | | | Collecting duct carcinoma is in less the 1% of |
| cancer is found in only one kidney; though in | | | | cases. However, it is very aggressive and has |
| some rare forms it can be in both. Kidney cancer | | | | metastisized by the time it's diagnosed; usually |
| spreads to the lymph nodes, bone, lungs and | | | | requiring chemotherapy. Medullar RCC is also found |
| pelvic region. If cancer has spread to the brain | | | | in less than 1% of cases and most common in |
| some neurological symptoms will be present. RCC | | | | African American patients. Some professionals |
| is responsible for 25-30,000 new cases each year. | | | | believe that it is connected to the sickle cell trait. |
| Symptoms of kidney cancers are sometimes | | | | If kidney cancer runs in your family, or you are |
| ignored because they are generalized. Though | | | | experiencing the above symptoms, you should |
| kidney cancer is on the rise, many people are not | | | | talk to your doctor. As with all forms of cancer |
| diagnosed until the cancer is advanced due to low | | | | early detection and education are the best tools |
| or no symptoms. Many of the symptoms are | | | | to aid in your protection and overall health. For |
| those of other less serious diseases and the | | | | questions you can speak to your physician, or |
| cancer is not caught at an early stage. Current | | | | contact the American Cancer Society. The best |
| symptoms are: blood in urine (light to dark in | | | | protection is early detection. |
| appearance), persistent pain in side or back, | | | | Whether or not you get cancer can vary |
| noticeable lump in side, tired or fatigue feeling and | | | | depending on several things. Your age, family |
| weight loss. | | | | history, environment, lifestyle, eating habits and |
| Many tests can be performed to diagnose kidney | | | | activity level can all play a part in whether or not |
| cancer. Urine and blood tests are usually | | | | you get cancer. Talk to your doctor if you have a |
| performed first, if symptoms or suspicion of | | | | family history of kidney cancer or you are a |
| kidney cancer are present. Once these tests are | | | | smoker. Smoking increases the chance of getting |
| performed, physicians may request a CT scan or | | | | kidney cancer. Though there are no good |
| ultrasound to look further. | | | | screenings for this form of cancer, talking to your |
| There are many rare forms of kidney cancer | | | | doctor about symptoms as soon as they appear |
| such as renal sarcoma chromophobe RCC, which | | | | will improve your chances of survival. Most |
| is responsible for 5% of RCC cases. This is very | | | | patients are diagnosed over the age of 50; |
| rare and has no standard therapy as of yet. Renal | | | | however, if you have a family history, testing |
| oncocytoma which is a large benign tumor which | | | | should be done early. |
| causes damage to other organs and requires | | | | |