Kidney Cancer

What is Kidney Cancer?

Kidney cancer is the cancer of the kidney. The kidneys are bean-shaped organs located in the abdomen on either side of the spine and they filter waste from your blood and make urine.

Renal cell carcinoma is cancer that forms in the lining of tiny tubules in the kidney and is the most common form of kidney cancer in adults. Young children are more likely to develop a form of kidney cancer known as Wilms tumor. 

What are the symptoms of Kidney Cancer?

Kidney cancer does not usually have symptoms at first. Over time, you may notice symptoms like:

• Anaemia
• Blood in the urine
• Extreme fatigue
• Flank pain at he sides of the back between the ribs and the hip
• Intermittent fever
• Lump in your side or abdomen
• Palpitations
• Swelling in your ankles or legs
• Unexplainable loss of appetite and weight

What are the risk factors of Kidney Cancer?

Factors that may increase your risk of Kidney Cancer includes:

• Age: The risk of kidney cancer increases with age.
• Smoking tobacco: People who smoke will have a higher risk of kidney cancer than those that do not. 
• Obesity: People who are obese have a higher risk of developing kidney cancer.
• High blood pressure: Hypertension increases your risk of kidney cancer.
• Family history: If you have a blood relative with kidney cancer, such as a parent or sibling, your risk of developing it increases.

How is Kidney Cancer diagnosed?

Biopsy
A needle biopsy is done to check the kidneys for signs of cancer.

Blood Test
A complete blood count blood test will be done to check for white blood cell increase due to infection. 

Imaging Tests
Imaging tests are done with ultrasound or CT scan to check for suspicious tumours and growths that may be indicative of cancer. 

Urine Test
Urine tests may be done to rule out a urinary tract infection (UTI) or kidney stones.