Kidney Cancer

Kidney cancer is also known as renal cancer.

The American Cancer Society reports that there are around thirty thousand new cases diagnosed annually, and it's terminal in approxiately twelve thousand people annually. Kidney cancer tends to occur in adults age 50. Twice as many men get kidney cancer as women. 

The most common type of kidney cancer is called renal cell cancer, or renal cell carcinoma. It occurs in the area of the kidneys that filter blood and produce urine.

Another type of adult kidney cancer, transitional cell carcinoma, is a tumor which grows in the area of the kidney where urine collects.

The most common symptom of kidney cancer in adults is the appearance of blood in the urine.

Renal cell carcinoma develops about twice as often in smokers as in nonsmokers. It's estimated that anyone who stops smoking will reduce their chances of getting renal pelvis cancer by fifty percent. Elinimating smoking would probably cut renal cell carcinoma by one third.

Kidney cancer tends to appear in different forms in children and adults.

The main type of kidney cancer in children is Wilms tumor, which begins to develop while the fetus is still in the womb. Wilms' tumor accounts for about six percent of childhood cancer cases.

Wilm's tumor may be quite large by the time it's diagnosed, which is typically around age three. Wilms tumor may be caused by certain congenital defects. There's an increased incidence among siblings and twins. The tumor may cause a noticeable mass and there casn also be pain and discomfort in the abdominal area.

In a minority of cases, blood in the urine occurs.

As with most types of cancer, the earlier kidney kidney cancer is detected, the better the chance for the patient to survive. Tumors often respond well to treatment if they are diagnosed early.

Treatment options include surgery, hormone therapy, biological therapy, embolization, chemotherapy and radiation therapy.

For additional information, click on kidney diseases and kidney problem causes.