Kidney Cancer
Printer Friendly PDF
Kidney cancer is cancer that originates in the kidneys, which filter blood and remove waste. The most common type of kidney cancer in adults is renal cell carcinoma that begins in the lining of the tubes of the kidney.
Statistics
- In 2012, an estimated 64,770 new cases of kidney and renal pelvis cancers will be diagnosed in the U.S.
- An estimated 13,570 Americans will die from the disease in 2012.
- In Texas, an estimated 4,141new kidney and renal pelvis cancers will be diagnosed, and 1,077 Texans are expected to die from the disease this year alone.
- The average age of people when diagnosed with kidney cancer is 64. Kidney cancer is rare under age 45.
- Of the many types of kidney cancer, nine out of 10 cases are diagnosed as renal cell carcinoma (RCC).
- About 3 percent of all cancers diagnosed each year are kidney cancers.
Risk Factors
The exact causes of kidney cancer are unknown; however, some risk factors are linked to the disease.
- Obesity: Kidney cancer risk increases for people who are extremely overweight.
- Race: African Americans have a slight increased risk compared to whites.
- Certain medicines: Use of phenacetin, a popular non-prescription pain reliever, has been linked to renal cell carcinoma. Because it has not been available for two decades, it is no longer a major concern.
- High blood pressure: People with high blood pressure are at a higher risk of developing the disease. It is not known whether the condition or the medicine used to treat it is to blame for the increase in risk.
- Gender: Men are twice as likely to develop the disease as women.
- Family history: Those with a strong family history of renal cell carcinoma are at a higher risk to develop the cancer. Brothers and sisters of those diagnosed are at the highest risk.
- Smoking: Tobacco use has a strong link to kidney cancer. Smoking raises the risk for developing kidney cancer. The risk decreases if tobacco use ceases.
- Kidney disease: Those with kidney disease and those on dialysis have an increased risk.
- Hereditary disease: People with rare inherited conditions including Birt-Hogg-Dube syndrome, hereditary leiomyoma-renal cell carcinoma, hereditary papillary renal cell carcinoma, hereditary renal oncocytoma, tuberous sclerosis, and von Hippel Lindau disease have an increased risk.
- Exposure to chemicals: Some research links exposure to asbestos, benzene, cadmium, some herbicides and organic solvents to an increased risk of developing kidney cancer.
Symptoms and Signs
Kidney cancer varies with each patient; some have no symptoms in the early stages. People with these symptoms should consult their physician:
- Blood in the urine
- Low blood counts (anemia)
- Abdominal mass
- Tumor calcification on x-ray
|
- Back or flank pain
- High calcium in blood
- Unexplained weight loss
- Fever
|
- Loss of appetite
- Fatigue
- Swelling in ankles and legs
|
Tips for Prevention
Kidney cancer cannot be completely prevented. However, certain lifestyle changes, such as quitting smoking, maintaining a healthy weight, controlling high blood pressure, and reducing or all together avoiding exposure to environmental toxins are believed to decrease the risk of developing the disease.
Treatment Options
Kidney cancer, depending on the stage, may be treated by a team of specialists, including medical oncologists, radiation oncologists, and urologists. Treatment options vary widely depending on the cancer’s stage and the patient’s overall health. Treatment options include removing part or all of the kidney, radiation therapy, targeted therapy, immunotherapy, and chemotherapy. Many patients receive a combination of treatments.
Source: American Cancer Society, Kidney Cancer Association, National Cancer Institute, and Texas Cancer Registry