Kidney Cancer: Risk Factors, Warning Signs and Treatment

The two kidneys are fist-sized organs on either side of the backbone, just above the waist. Tiny tubes inside them filter and clean the blood, removing waste and making urine. Kidney cancer forms in the lining of those tubes.

Risk factors

The risk rises with age. Other risk factors are smoking, certain genetic conditions, and misusing pain medicines for a long time.

Signs

There may be no symptoms at first; they can appear as the cancer grows. See a health care provider if you notice:

• blood in your urine
• a lump in your abdomen
• weight loss for no reason
• pain in your side that does not go away
• loss of appetite

Diagnosis and treatment

Blood, urine and imaging tests diagnose kidney cancer, sometimes with a biopsy. Treatment depends on your age, your overall health and how advanced the cancer is. It may include surgery, chemotherapy or radiation, or:

• biologic therapy, which strengthens the body's own ability to fight cancer;
• targeted therapy, drugs or other substances that attack specific cancer cells while doing less harm to normal ones.

Sources

• MedlinePlus, U.S. National Library of Medicine, "Kidney Cancer," drawing on the NIH National Cancer Institute. https://medlineplus.gov/kidneycancer.html
• Rewritten in hubnx's own words.