Cancer Types - Kidney

Happy Friday one and all! How fast is time flying at the moment! I can’t believe we’re in the middle of June! Life is very busy at the moment but this blog is my pride and joy so I’m doing my best to update it and I’m constantly planning new posts! I will attending a lobby of Westminster for the Plain Packaging campaign on June 27^th so please make sure you’ve signed the petition on the side of the page to show your support for the campaign! Thank you!

Today I’m going to write about a cancer type that I didn’t know much about previously. The kidneys are a hugely important part of the human body so I thought it was about time I found out a little about what happens if cancer strikes in this area. Hopefully you’ll find it interesting!

The Kidneys:

The kidneys are two fist sized, bean shaped organs which make up part of the urinary system. They are found near the middle of the back with one kidney on each side of the spine. They filter blood by collecting waste product and unneeded water as the blood passes through them. This is then turned into urine. This process takes place in tiny tubes known as nephrons and there are about a million of them in every kidney. Both kidneys have a tube known as the ureter attached and they drain the urine into the bladder. Another tube called the urethra then carries the urine from the bladder out of your body.

Kidneys also produce three important hormones. These are:

* Erythropoietin (EPO) tells the bone marrow to make red blood cells

* Renin regulates your blood pressure

* Calcitriol helps your intestine absorb calcium

Causes and Risks:

Kidney cancer is rarely diagnosed in people under the age of fifty. However it is now the eighth most common male cancer and the ninth most common female cancer in the UK. It affects a lot more men then women. Something’s can increase your risk of developing cancer of the kidney:

* Smoking – A smoker has DOUBLE the risk of a non smoker

* Gene Faults – Some people have an inherited gene which means they will have a tendency to develop kidney cancer. Having a relative with kidney cancer also increases your risk

* Obesity is another risk factor

* Hepatitis C and having a kidney disease requiring treatment using dialysis are also risk factors

* Previous treatment for cancers of the testicles or cervix can also increase your risk

* Heavy use of pain killers and drugs such as aspirin, paracetamol and ibuprofen can also increase your risk.

Symptoms:

There are not always obvious symptoms for the early stages of kidney cancer. At the moment an increasing amount of kidney cancer cases are being found during an MRI scan being performed for other reasons. However as the cancer beings to grow, symptoms become apparent:

Blood in the urine is the most common symptom. Sometimes the blood isn’t visible to the naked eye but is picked up in a urine test. Don’t panic as blood in the urine doesn’t automatically mean cancer BUT it is hugely important to visit your doctor ASAP should you experience it.

A lump or swelling in the kidney area is also a symptom. Other symptoms include loss of appetite, fatigue, weight loss, a constant pain in your side and a high temperature with very heavy sweating.

Please remember that these symptoms can be caused by lots of different things so don’t panic and think you have cancer. Just make an appointment with your GP and get yourself checked out.

Treatment:

As with most cancers; treatment will depend on your stage and grading. Your specialist will discuss it with you. Surgery, radiotherapy, radio wave treatment and cryotherapy are all options for patients with cancer of the kidney.

For more information on kidney cancer please visit www.cancerresearchuk.org

I hope you find these cancer type blog posts informative. I learn lots by researching them and I hope I’m passing that information onto you clearly. I think it’s worth learning as much as we can about cancer as it can is easier to treat the earlier it is diagnosed. Education is key when it comes to helping people survive cancer or just avoid it in the first place if they can!

Have a good weekend everyone J

xxx