Information on Kidney Cancer
Kidney cancer is a cancer that begins in the kidneys. The kidneys are part of the body’s urinary system, which filters waste products out of the blood in the form of urine. Kidney cancer starts in the cells of the kidney. The two kidneys are found on either side of the backbone, deep inside the upper part of the abdomen and protected by the lower ribs. Their job is to filter water, impurities and waste material from the blood and to produce urine. Urine passes from each kidney to the bladder through tubes called the ureters. In its early stages, kidney cancer usually causes no obvious signs or troublesome symptoms.
As a kidney tumor grows, symptoms may occur. These may comprise blood in the urine. In several cases, blood is visible. In additional instances, traces of blood are noticed in a urinalysis, a lab test frequently performed as part of a regular medical checkup. Other less common symptoms may include tiredness, loss of appetite, weight loss, recurrent fevers, and pain in the side that doesn’t go away. High blood pressure or a lower than normal number of red cells in the blood (anemia) may also signal a kidney tumor. These symptoms occur less often. The causes of kidney cancer are unknown. There are some factors that may increase the risk.