The kidneys are two bean-shaped organs located in the back of the abdomen on either side of the spine, protected by the lower ribs. They perform vital functions including removing waste products from the blood and balancing electrolytes. The outer portion of the kidney is known as the cortex and the inner portion is called the renal pelvis. Different types of cancer tend to develop in the cortex or renal pelvis of the kidneys.
Definition
According to the University of Pennsylvania's Abramson Cancer Center, "The definition of a tumor is a mass of abnormally growing cells." When a tumor develops on the kidneys it can be classed either as a benign (non-invasive) or malignant (invasive) type of cancer.
Types
Kidney cancer is most common in the cortex, the series of tubes that are responsible for filtering blood. Most kidney cancers of the cortex are renal cell carcinomas. Less common types of renal cancer of the cortex include chromophilic, chromophobic and oncocytic cancers. Cancer of the renal pelvis is much less common, and most of them are classified as transitional cell carcinomas.
Symptoms
Early-stage kidney cancer may manifest few, if any, symptoms. Later-stage cancers may cause weight loss, fatigue, pink, red or cola-colored urine due to blood, persistent back pain just inside the back lower ribs (where the kidneys are located) and intermittent fever.
Causes
While the cause of kidney cancer is not entirely understood, doctors believe that risk factors such as increased age, gender (being male), smoking, obesity, high blood pressure, poor kidney function and exposure to chemicals may increase the risk of developing kidney cancer. A now-withdrawn medication, Phenacetin, has also been linked to kidney cancer according to the Mayo Clinic website.
Treatments
Surgical treatments for kidney cancer include removing the tumor mass from the kidney or even removing the entire kidney. Non-surgical options include freezing the cancer cells, immunotherapy and arterial embolization, which deprives the tumor of blood, oxygen and nutrients. Acupuncture, massage and meditation may not help cure the cancer but can be helpful for a patient struggling to cope with cancer symptoms and the side effects of treatment.
