Kidneys are two bean-shaped organs about the size of a fist in the lower abdomen. Its main function is to clean the blood, remove waste products, and make urine.
Kidney cancer develops when kidney cells grow out of control and become cancerous. Cancer mostly starts to appear in the lining of tubes. Doctors often discover most kidney cancers before they metastasize to other organs. However, by the time they find them, the tumors are usually quite large.
Causes of Kidney Cancer
- Smoking
- Obesity
- Having advanced kidney disease
- Certain genetic mutations
- Family history
- Exposure to certain chemicals
- Lymphoma
Symptoms of Kidney Cancer
- A lump in the abdomen
- Loss of appetite
- Fatigue
- Anemia
- Swelling in legs or ankles
- Blood in urine
- Unexplained weight loss
Prevention of Kidney Cancer
- Keep your blood pressure in check.
- Avoid smoking
- Maintain a healthy weight.
- Avoid exposure to carcinogens.
Diagnosis of Kidney Cancer
- Blood and urine tests – It helps the doctor identify the signs and symptoms.
- Imaging test – It includes X-rays, CT scans, or MRIs to visualize kidney tumors or any other abnormality.
- Biopsy – It includes removing a sample of kidney tissue to test them further in a lab for signs of cancer
- Angiography – It is an X-ray that looks at blood vessels.
Treatment of Kidney Cancer
- Nephrectomy – In this, surgeons remove the entire kidney affected by cancer in this surgery.
- Partial Nephrectomy – This surgery involves the removal of a tumor from the affected kidney instead of the entire kidney itself. Surgeons might remove a small margin of healthy tissue surrounding the kidney. It is a fairly common treatment for small kidney cancers.
- Cryoablation – In this, a hollow needle is inserted into the kidney tumor using ultrasound. After this, cold gas is used which freezes the cancer cells.
- Radiofrequency Ablation – In this, a special probe is inserted into the kidney tumor using ultrasound. Next, the needle conducts an electric current, burning or heating up the cancer cells.
- Targeted Therapy – This treatment uses specific drugs that are designed specifically to target the tumor cells present in the kidney. This therapy causes less harm to the normal cells than chemotherapy and radiation therapy.
- Radiation Therapy – Radiation therapy uses high-energy radiation like X-rays and protons to kill the cancer cells or halt their growth. Doctors sometimes use it to alleviate symptoms of kidney cancer that has spread to other areas of the body.
- Immunotherapy – It uses the body’s immune system to fight off cancer cells. It activates the body’s immune system. Substances boost and restore it. They defend against cancer cells.