Symptoms and Causes of Kidney Cancer

Symptoms of Kidney Cancer

Kidney cancer usually has no symptoms at an early stage of the disease. For this reason, most kidney tumors are diagnosed by chance in the course of diagnostic tests performed for another reason when the tumor has not yet caused any symptoms. When there is tumor growth and the disease is at a more advanced stage it may present with a number of symptoms:

Appearance of abdominal mass.

Blood in the urine (hematuria).

Abdominal pain or pain in the area of the kidneys.

Retroperitoneal bleeding.

General symptoms such as weight loss, fever, anemia, high blood pressure or others.

Secretion of substances that produce an exaggerated increase in red blood cells (polycythemia) or platelets (thrombocytosis), increased calcium, liver alterations, etc.

Occasionally, the first manifestation is the appearance of distant metastases.

Causes of Kidney Cancer

Scientists continue to investigate the factors that cause kidney cancer and ways to prevent it. Studies conducted so far conclude that there is a relationship between kidney cancer and the following factors:

Tobacco consumption, which can double the risk of kidney cancer. It is responsible for 30% of cases in men and approximately 25% in women.

Obesity

History of first-degree relatives.

Gender.Men are more likely than women todevelop kidney cancer.

Age.It isusually diagnosed between the ages of 50 and 70.

High blood pressure.People with hypertension may be more likely to develop kidney cancer.

Chronic use of certain analgesics is also associated with an increased risk.

Cadmium exposure. Some scientific studies have shown a link between kidney cancer and exposure to this metal. Working with batteries, paints or soldering materials can increase the risk. If the person exposed to cadmium is a smoker, the risk is even greater.

Chronic kidney disease.People whose kidney function is decreased, but do not yet need dialysis, may be at increased risk of developing kidney cancer.

Long-term dialysis.People who have been on dialysis for a long period of time may develop kidney cancer. They are usually detected at an early stage of the cancer and can usually be removed before it spreads.

Tuberous sclerosis disease. People born with this disease are more prone to this cancer.

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How do you know if a cyst in the kidney is malignant?

To know if a kidney cyst is malignant, it is important to perform a series of studies and medical evaluations. The most common steps to determine the nature of a kidney cyst are: Renal ultrasound: ultrasound can show the shape and size of the cyst, as well as the presence of any suspicious features, such as irregular walls or inhomogeneous fluid. Computed tomography (CT): If the cyst has suspicious features on ultrasound, a CT scan may be done to obtain more detailed images. This helps to identify if there are solid masses within the cyst or changes in the cyst walls that suggest malignancy. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI): is useful to better characterize the cyst and may provide additional information about its composition. This is particularly useful if there is doubt after the CT scan. Bosniak classification: The Bosniak classification system is used to categorize renal cysts based on their appearance on imaging and help determine the risk of malignancy. Biopsy: In some cases, if the cyst is suspected to be malignant or if imaging tests are inconclusive, a renal biopsy may be performed to obtain a sample of the tissue and examine it under the microscope. In general, benign kidney cysts do not cause symptoms. However, if a cyst becomes large, it may cause pain in the back or abdomen. If the cyst is malignant, there may be additional symptoms such as blood in the urine, unexplained weight loss or fatigue.

What are the causes of kidney cancer?

It is usually related to smoking and obesity. Although there are also other risk factors such as age or first-degree family history that may play a role.

Where does kidney cancer metastasize?

The most frequent areas to which kidney cancer can spread are the bones, liver, lungs, brain and distant lymph nodes.

What is the prognosis of kidney cancer?

In general, in patients with renal tumors under 4 cm that are treated surgically, cure rates of over 90% are achieved. If the mass is large and has spread outside the kidney, the prognosis is worse, especially if any of the following factors are present: anemia, high lactate dehydrogenase level, high blood calcium level, spread to two or more distant sites, or if the person's general condition is unfavorable.

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