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While cancer in its various forms can strike virtually any organ of the body, only rarely does it seem to attack the kidneys. This is fortunate, because in addition to being among the more delicate organs, the kidneys perform some of the body's most vital functions.
In the United States, renal adenocarcinoma -- cancer of the kidney -- accounts for about 3% of all adult cancers. About 30,000 new cases are diagnosed annually. The disease occurs almost twice as often in men as it does in women and generally appears between the ages of 50 and 70, although it can appear earlier. It is important to realize that while kidney cancer is a serious illness, with timely diagnosis and treatment it can be cured.
The kidneys are an essential part of the body's urinary system. Bean-shaped organs about the size of a fist, the two kidneys are located near the middle of the back, just below the rib cage. Their primary function is to detoxify the bloodstream, filtering out impurities and waste products through tiny filters called nephrons.
The kidneys also produce three important hormones: erythropoitein (EPO), which triggers the production of red blood cells in bones; renin, which regulates blood pressure; and vitamin D, which helps regulate the body's calcium balance, necessary for healthy bones.
Renal Cell Carcinoma (RCC)
There are several forms of cancer which may afflict the kidneys. The most common is renal cell carcinoma (RCC), a disease that accounts for approximately 85% of all kidney cancers.
Because RCC can grow to considerable size before causing pain or discomfort, most cases are discovered only after the disease has progressed to a dangerous level.
Fortunately, however, many are discovered incidentally -- typically when the patient undergoes medical tests for some other ailment. While the discovery usually comes as a shock to the patient, incidental discovery can be a blessing in disguise. This is because tumors discovered at this stage often are not too far advanced in their development and will respond well to treatment. Survival rates in such cases are high. The prognosis is less optimistic when tumors have grown enough to produce symptoms. Often such cancers have metastasized; that is, begun spreading to other organs. Survival rates in such cases are diminished.
The major symptoms of RCC are:
- blood in the urine (hematuria);
- pain in the flank (side) or lower back not associated with an injury;
- an abdominal mass or lump in the belly;
- a persistent feeling of fatigue;
- rapid, unexplained weight loss;
- fever not caused by a cold or flu, and
- swelling of the legs and ankles.
While these primary symptoms can indicate the presence of RCC, in most cases they are the result of other illnesses. Nevertheless, people who have any of these symptoms should see their urologist as soon as possible.
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