Understanding Kidney Cancer
Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is the most common type of adult kidney cancer, RCC is a mass that grows in the urine-producing portion of the kidney. Affecting about 32,000 Americans each year, this cancer usually responds well to treatment when caught early. If found early, the survival rate for patients with kidney cancer is as high as 81 percent.
Risk Factors for Renal Cell Carcinoma
- Smoking
- Hypertension
- Obesity
- Family history of kidney cancer
- Chronic kidney failure and/or dialysis
- Diet with high caloric intake or fried/sauteed meat
- Von Hippel-Lindau syndrome
- Tuberous sclerosis
Symptoms
- Blood in the urine
- Low back pain on one side, not caused by injury
- Mass or lump on the side or lower back
- Fatigue or tiredness
- Unexplained weight loss
- Fever of unknown origin
- Anemia
