Kidney cancer

Kidney cancer occurs when healthy cells in one or both kidneys grow out of control and form a lump (called a tumor).The kidneys are two bean-shaped organs, located behind the abdominal organs, with one kidney on each side of the spine. They filter the blood and remove waste material and excess water by making urine that is expelled as waste. 

During the early stages, most people don’t have any signs or symptoms of cancer. Kidney cancer is usually detected by chance during an abdominal imaging test. As the tumor grows, a person may have symptoms like blood in the urine, pain in the lower back, a lump or swelling in the kidney area or abdomen, and losing weight for no reason. 

The major risk factor for kidney cancer is smoking. Other factors include high blood pressure, diabetes, obesity, kidney stones, long term dialysis, certain genetic conditions, and being exposed to certain chemicals.

Treatment of kidney cancer includes one of or a combination of chemotherapy, radiation therapy, embolization, biological therapy, and surgery. After treatment, follow-up care is essential to monitor recovery and to check for any possible recurrence of kidney cancer.