Usual Signs And Risks Affiliated With Kidney Cancer
September 7th, 2008 by admin
Because five-year survival rates increase significantly in patients who have a diagnosis early, detection of kidney cancer symptoms is critical. To learn more about symptoms associated with the disease and contributing risk factors, keep reading.
Symptoms
Bloody Urine: Bloody urine is a common sign of kidney cancer. However, like many kidney cancer symptoms, it can also be associated with bladder cancer and other bladder-related ailments.
Lower Back Pain: Many kidney cancer patients complain of a lower back that’s unrelated to an injury or other causes.
Lump: A lump or mass in the abdomen is often felt or found by patients with kidney cancer.
Fatigue: Fatigue is a common symptom of many kidney cancer patients. They feel weak, lethargic and unable to maintain high energy levels. Unfortunately, this is a very general symptom associated with numerous diseases.
Weight Loss: Weight loss that is both unintentional and rapid is often a sign of kidney cancer. However, this symptom is also common to many other diseases and cancers.
Frequent Fevers: Fevers that are consistent, frequent and not connected to other infections (like a flu) can be a symptom of kidney cancer.
Swelling: Edema, also known as swelling in the lower legs is a typical kidney cancer symptom most apparent in women.
High Blood Pressure: Again, high blood pressure is a symptom associated with many diseases, but when tracked in conjunction with other symptoms, it can often lead doctors to a kidney cancer diagnosis.
Risk Factors and Causes of Kidney Cancer
Smoking: Smoking is the cause of 30% of renal cell carcinoma (common kidney cancer) cases in male smokers and 25% of cases in women.
Analgesic Medication: Addictions to painkillers that contain phenactin, which is no longer approved in the United States, can dramatically increase a person’s risk for kidney cancer.
Exposure at the Work Place: Workers who are exposed to products like organic solvents, petroleum by-products, camium and asbestos all have an increased risk for developing kidney cancer.
Genetic Disorders: Genetic disorders of the kidney, such as tuberous sclerosis, von Hippel-Lindau disease or a heavy family history of the disease can all increase a person’s risk for developing kidney cancer.
Obesity: People who are obese or very overweight are more at risk for developing renal cell kidney cancer than those who maintain a healthy body weight.
Long-Term Kidney Failure: Persistent and consistent kidney failure can cause cysts to form in the kidney, therefore increasing the cancer risk.
Age: Renal cell kidney cancer typically occurs in adults between the ages of 50 and 70 years old.
Male or Female: Men are twice more likely to develop kidney cancer, like renal cell carcinoma, than women.
If any of the listed risk factors apply to you, be sure to keep a watchful eye out for potential kidney cancer symptoms. Should any start presenting themselves - or any cancer signs - consult your physician immediately about treatments.