The other names for renal cancer include renal cell carcinoma, hypernephroma, kidney cancer, and renal adenocarcinoma. This is among the ten most common cancers that affects adults in the country. The function of the kidney is to eliminate the waste from the body including excess water and salt. The organ also helps control the blood pressure and ensures the body has enough red blood cells by making a hormone called erythropoietin. Minute tubes called tubules present in the kidneys are responsible for the filtration of blood and help in excreting waste from the body. They also assist in the production of urine. When the cells in the lining of these tubules start multiplying uncontrollably, it signifies the onset of renal cancer in most of the people.
Causes of renal cancer
The actual cause of renal cancer is still unknown; however, there are various factors that increase the risk of getting this type of cancer in many individuals.
- The risk of getting renal cancer increases with growing age.
- When you smoke frequently, it increases the chance of getting this type of cancer very easily.
- Rapidly increasing weight can also influence the risk of renal cancer.
- Another factor, which contributes to increasing the risk of renal cancer is high blood pressure.
- When you undergo regular treatment for kidney failure, it also increases the chances of developing renal cancer.
- Heredity is another factor that contributes to an increased risk of renal cancer.
- There are certain substances like tobacco which also contribute to increasing the risk of renal cancer.
Symptoms of renal cancer
The early stage of renal cancer shows no symptoms at all in most of the individuals. With the increase in the size of the tumor, the symptoms of renal cancer start to gradually show up.
- One may experience blood in their urine if suffering from renal cancer.
- Many individuals also experience a lump in any side of the body or abdomen area.
- Many people experience loss of appetite with renal cancer.
- Several individuals also have pain in one side of the body.
- Weight loss is another symptom experienced by most of the people suffering from this cancer.
- Some people may experience a fever without any reason.
- Individuals may experience a lot of fatigue as a symptom of renal cancer.
- Anemia is another significant symptom seen in most of the people having renal cancer.
- One may experience swelling in the legs or ankles if they suffer from this type of cancer.
Treatment of renal cancer
There are various surgical treatments suggested to the patients of renal cancer. Nephrectomy is one of the important surgical procedures utilized to treat renal cancer. In this treatment, one of the affected kidneys is removed and the body will perform its required functions with one kidney only. There are various other non-surgical treatments for the treatment of renal cancer like embolization and cryoablation.
