The kidneys are two bean-shaped organs, each about the size of a fist. They’re located in your abdomen on either side of your spine. The kidneys filter out waste from your blood and make urine. There are different types of cancer that can affect your kidneys.
The National Cancer Institute estimates that there were more than 63,000 new cases of kidney cancer in the United States in 2017.
The incidence of kidney cancer appears to be increasing, according to the Mayo Clinic. One possible reason may be increased screening by CT scans.
Symptoms of kidney cancer
Kidney cancer doesn’t usually cause any symptoms in its early stages. As the cancer progresses, the symptoms may include:
- persistent back pain, especially just below your ribs
- blood in your urine
- abdominal pain
- abdominal swelling
- a lump in the abdomen
- fatigue
- flank pain
- recurring fevers
- unexplained weight loss
- anemia
What are the types of kidney cancer?
Several types of cancer can affect the kidneys. Adenocarcinoma of the kidney is also known as renal cell carcinoma. It’s the most common type of kidney cancer in adults and starts in the part of the kidney that filters blood. Renal pelvis carcinoma starts in the part of the kidney where urine is collected.
Wilms’ tumor is the most common type of kidney cancer in children under the age of 5.
There are other types of kidney cancer, but they’re rare.
Causes and risk factors of this cancer
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