An Overview of Kidney Cancer: What You Need To Know

Kidney cancer is the eighth most common form of cancer in the United States, affecting both men and women. It can be a potentially life-threatening disease that can be difficult to diagnose. In this blog post, we will cover some key facts about kidney cancer so that you can be better informed and prepared if you are to receive a diagnosis. 

What is Kidney Cancer?

Kidney cancer occurs when abnormal cells grow out of control in one or both kidneys. The kidneys are two bean-shaped organs located on either side of the spine in your lower back. They filter waste from your blood and produce urine, which is then stored in the bladder until it is ready to be released from the body.

Symptoms of Kidney Cancer

The most common symptoms of kidney cancer are blood in the urine, pain or lump in the abdomen or side, fatigue, loss of appetite, weight loss, fever, night sweats, and swollen feet or ankles. Some people may also experience nausea or vomiting. If you experience any of these symptoms for an extended period of time, it’s important to see your doctor so they can provide a diagnosis and treatment options if necessary.

Risk Factors and Prevention

A risk factor is anything that increases your chance of getting a disease such as cancer. Even if you are to have one of the risk factors or many, that does not necessarily mean you are bound to get kidney cancer. There are a few risk factors associated with kidney cancer, such as age (it’s more common among people over 50), smoking cigarettes (which increases your risk by up to 50%), obesity (which doubles your risk), and having high blood pressure (which also doubles your risk). To reduce your risk of developing kidney cancer, it’s important to maintain a healthy lifestyle by exercising regularly, eating a balanced diet, and avoiding smoking cigarettes. Additionally, if you have high blood pressure or diabetes, it’s important to manage those conditions with medications prescribed by your doctor.

 

It is important for everyone to have an understanding of kidney cancer so that they can recognize its symptoms early on and seek medical help if necessary. While there are certain risk factors associated with developing this type of cancer, there are also several preventative measures that you can take, such as maintaining a healthy lifestyle through exercise and dieting, as well as managing any pre-existing conditions like diabetes or high blood pressure with medication prescribed by your doctor. By being informed about kidney cancer, you can be better prepared should this condition ever affect someone close to you or yourself directly down the road. For more information about kidney cancer, visit https://www.cancer.org/cancer/kidney-cancer.html