Determining Kidney Cancer Symptoms
Cells are what make up the tissues or organs of the body. Cancer is a disease that begins in the cells. The type of cancer you have is determined by what parts of the body are affected. In the case of kidney cancer the kidneys are affected. The appearance of kidney cancer symptoms is your body’s way of letting you know there is a problem.
The kidneys are what the body uses to produce urine. It is also responsible for making substances that help to control blood pressure as well as producing red blood cells.
Under normal circumstances cells form and separate to produce new cells as the body has a need for them. When these cells get old they die and new ones replace them. When this happens it causes new cells to grow before they are needed and prevents old ones from dying when they should. These excess cells lead to the formation of tumors.
There are two types of tumors, benign and malignant. Benign tumors are not cancerous and generally do not return once they are removed. They also do not spread to other regions of the body.
Malignant tumors are much more serious and in many cases can be life threatening. They have the ability to spread to other areas and affect any part of the body. They also have the ability to return after removal.
Although there are several types of kidney cancer the most common type found in adults is renal cell carcinoma. This is also known as RCC or hypernephroma and usually begins in the tiny tubes that filter blood and remove waste from the kidneys.
There are several kidney cancer symptoms that may present themselves in patients that develop renal cell carcinoma. Some of these symptoms include constipation, excessive hair growth in women, changes in urine making it a dark, rusty or brown color, blood in the urine, pain in the loin area, anorexia, weight loss, testicle enlargement usually on the left, anemia, elevated levels of calcium, high blood pressure, changes in vision and night sweats.
Although this is not an all conclusive list of symptoms and most can be attributed to any number of other illnesses and diseases it is important to have yourself checked if you experience any of them. Early detection is beneficial because the early this kidney cancer can be discovered the sooner treatment can begin making successful treatment more possible. In many cases if only the kidneys are affected surgery can effectively correct the problem.
Not every person will experience the same kidney cancer symptoms so it is important to notify your health care provider if you experience any of the known symptoms as well as any other unusual symptoms you may be experiencing. The sooner you know what you are dealing with the better your chances of recovery will be.
It has been noted in studies that men have a higher chance of developing this disease and African Americans have a slightly higher chance still than that of other races.
