Kidneys are two bean-shaped organs located in the upper abdominal area against the back muscles on both the left and right side of the spine. The major function of this organ is to discharge excess fluid and waste materials from the body through urine. The kidneys also support in controlling the production of red blood cells that help in regulating blood pressure. The pain in the kidney area, i.e., in the back (under the ribs, to the right or left of the spine) is called kidney pain, also known as renal or flank pain.

The cause of kidney pain may be some underlying diseases that might hamper kidney functioning severely. One of the major causes is kidney cancer. So, the next time when you feel pain in your kidney do not take it lightly as it can be cancerous. Let us know more about kidney cancer and kidney cancer symptoms.

Kidney cancer
Kidney cancer, also termed as renal cancer is a chronic disease in which kidney cells become malignant and grow out of control, forming a tumor. The renal tubule and the renal pelvis are the two major parts of the kidney where kidney cancer can originate. Mostly, people with obesity, frequent smoking habits, high blood pressure or old people have the high chances of developing kidney cancer.

Stages of kidney cancer
The stages of kidney cancer are mainly divided into four stages which are explained below:

• Stage I: In this stage, the tumor is just limited to the kidney and is generally less than 2.8 inches in size.
• Stage II: In this stage also the tumor is only limited to the kidney and is greater than 2.8 inches in size.
• Stage III: In this stage, the cancer is not just limited to the kidney but spreads beyond it, mainly towards the adrenal gland, nearby blood vessels or the fatty area around the kidney.
• Stage IV: In this stage, the tumor spreads beyond the fatty tissue around the kidney or to other organs affecting at least one lymph node.

Kidney cancer symptoms
Generally, the kidney cancer symptoms do not appear in the early stages.

The most common signs of kidney cancer in a patient are as follow:

• Blood in the urine
  Blood in the urine, medically termed as hematuria is the primary symptoms of kidney cancer and any kind of infection, enlargement of the prostate gland or kidney stones might cause this kidney cancer symptom. Studies show that approximately half of the people diagnosed with kidney cancer experience this symptom. The bleeding may be temporary, and it usually comes and goes. Sometimes, it cannot be noticed by the naked eye but can be seen during the urine test.
• A lump or mass in the kidney area
  Feeling of a lump or swelling around the kidney is also kidney cancer symptom. It can be diagnosed by performing an ultrasound scan as most of these lumps are too small for someone to feel or recognize.
• Other Symptoms
  Some kidney cancer symptoms can be experienced very less often and can be vague. These symptoms are listed below:
• Loss of appetite.
• Unexplained and rapid weight loss.
• High temperature and heavy sweating.
• Fatigue.
• A continuous pain on one side of the body between the upper abdomen and the back.
• A lump in the abdomen.
• High blood pressure.
• Anaemia, a condition in which the number of red blood cells is below normal.

All these kidney cancer symptoms can be due to various other conditions and may not prove that someone is having kidney cancer or not. But if any of these symptoms are experienced by a person then it is advised to go for a check-up so that any signs of kidney cancer can be diagnosed and treated early.

Diagnosis
The kidney cancer symptoms can be easily diagnosed by undergoing some tests which are as follows:

• Blood and urine test helps in determining whether the symptoms are due to kidney stones and infection or kidney cancer.
• An ultrasound scan is done to analyze changes in the shape of the kidney if any that could be due to the formation of a tumor.
• A biopsy is performed for examination of cancerous cells by removing a small sample of kidney tissue using a needle.

Early diagnosis of kidney cancer can improve the condition and also relieve the symptom which is an important part of cancer care and treatment. Treatment of kidney cancer depends mainly on the type and stage of cancer. Even a slight pain in the kidney area should not be ignored.

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