Nature of Kidney Cancer and How to Detect it Before Too Late

Unfortunately, kidney cancer does not present early symptoms. It is usually discovered from blood in the urine, a palpable lump in the abdomen, swelling, weight loss or pain. The five-year survival rate of patients with a metastasized condition is 0 to 5%. If not discovered in time, it can lead to kidney failure and other diseases within the body.

This type of cancer is best treated by surgery.

Some interventions have poor results and some of good. The procedure most often used removes the entire kidney, the associated adrenal gland and surrounding tissue. Depending upon the involvement, lymph nodes may also be removed and examined for metastasis. In the case of both kidneys being involved, a lesser procedure is used, leaving un involved portions of the kidneys so the patient has some remaining kidney function.

Radiation may be used to ease symptoms but does not produce an effective treatment alone. The presently available chemotherapy drugs have not been found to be an effective treatment for kidney cancer, leaving surgery as the only remaining effective option.
Immune stimulating drugs are used to increase the body's ability to fight the cancer of the kidneys.

If you have this type of cancer, don't give up because of the odds. Remember that you are not a statistic. There is much help and success to be found outside conventional practice. Seek out specialists in this area, or better yet, 'turn on' your body's own cancer fighting mechanism by detoxifying and nourishing your body.

Much information is available in this area. Investigate 'juice fasting' and the use of nutritional supplements that will energize your immune system to do what it will do if it is properly supported.

Types of Kidney Cancer

There are basically Three Types of kidney cancer:

1. Renal Cell Carcinoma: Renal cell carcinoma is cancer that forms in the lining of very small tubes in the kidney that filter the blood and remove waste products.

2. Renal Pelvis Carcinoma: Renal pelvis carcinoma is cancer that forms in the center of the kidney where urine collects.

3. Wilms Tumor: Wilms tumor usually develops in children under the age of five.

This year, it is estimated that there will be 54,390 new cases diagnosed. It is also estimated that there will be 13,010 deaths caused by the disease.

People are born with two kidneys. One is located on each side of the spine in the lower abdomen. The good news is that people can live full lives with a normal life expectancy with only one. It is important to note here that all tumors found in the kidneys are not cancerous. As a matter of fact, most cancers found are benign.

Most often, renal cell carcinoma and renal pelvis carcinoma develop in people over the age of 40. There is no way to determine who is more likely to develop the disease but there are some factors that raise the risk.

Smoking: Smoking both cigarettes and/or cigars raises the risk of developing all kinds of cancer, including kidney cancer.

Obesity: Obesity seems to be a major risk factor in developing this type if cancer.

Gender: Men are more likely to get the disease than women. About 20,000 men and 12,000 women learn they have kidney cancer each year in the United States.

Occupation: Iron and steel workers and workers who are exposed to asbestos and cadmium are more likely to develop kidney cancer.