Learning about kidney cancer signs and symptoms must start by understanding the kidneys. Basically, these are the organs that produce urine, the liquid that the body uses to rid itself of waste. Kidneys do this by filtering all the liquids in the body through their millions of nephrons. Kidneys can easily and quickly take waste out of liquids, while leaving the clean liquid for the bloodstream to deliver it through the body. Additionally, the kidneys are linked to the pituitary gland, which ensures water in the body remains at optimum level.
Learning About Kidney Cancer Signs and Symptoms:
Kidney cancer, like all cancers, is a very serious condition and can be lethal. That said, each human being has two kidneys and, if one loses functionality, it is still possible to live a full life with just a single kidney. Transplant lists are also much shorter than those for other cancers. That said, nobody wants to have cancer, whether it is possible to live with one kidney or not.
Learning about kidney cancer signs and symptoms must include understanding that it accounts for just 4% of all cancers. It is quite rare, therefore. Furthermore, it is more common in men than in women. This also means that men should be more aware of the symptoms than women. Symptoms to look out for include:
- Blood in the urine, although this is sometimes invisible to the naked eye
- Chronic pain in the abdominal region and back, which doesn’t respond to painkillers
- Feeling lumpy or full in the upper abdomen
Kidney cancer can also be asymptomatic for a very long time. This is why it is important that everybody commit to a healthy lifestyle, thereby reducing the chance of this cancer developing in the first place. Additionally, it is important to seek medical help as soon as possible. Research has shown that as much as 20% of people diagnosed with kidney cancer noticed blood in their urine, lumps in their upper abdomen, pain, fever, loss of appetite, constipation, nausea and vomiting, and feeling full, but did not immediately seek help for this. It wasn’t until they sought help for a different medical condition in which it was determined that they had low red blood cell count (anemia) and polycythemia (high blood cell count), until a physician is able to determine that kidney cancer is present.
The reality is also that the symptoms of kidney cancer are often very mild, particularly compared to other forms of cancer. Not just that, they are also easily confused with other illnesses. This is why early detection rates in kidney cancer are very low. Hence, if you are male and aged between 30 and 70, you should pay particular attention to your body so that you know when something is up.
Preventing cancer is always better than trying to cure it. Hence, commit to living a healthy lifestyle. This means eating a nutritious, balanced diet and engaging in plenty of physical exercise. In so doing, you have a far greater chance of not getting cancer in the first place.
