Kidney cancer accounts for about three percent of all cancers in the U.S. While the rate of kidney cancer is increasing, the death rate has been declining since the 1990s. Since March is National Kidney Month, here are five things you might not know about kidney cancer.
1. It’s not unusual for kidney cancer not to have any symptoms especially in the early stages. In fact in many cases, kidney cancer is not diagnosed until it has already spread. Kidney cancer is often detected in its early stage through routine checkups.
2. Kidney cancer occurs about twice more often in men and women, and it’s usually diagnosed between the ages of 50-70. People are rarely diagnosed younger than age 45.
3. If a sibling has kidney cancer, your risk for developing kidney cancer is higher than if your parent has it. Experts think environment just as well as genetics can play a role in your risk.
4. Renal cell cancer is the most common type of kidney cancer. This is when malignant cancer cells form a tumor in the tubules of the kidney. If it’s caught early, the chance of the cancer coming back is very low. However, it is hard to detect in the early stages.
5. A person can live with only part of a working kidney. For many cases, the treatment includes surgery to remove part or the entire affected kidney. When surgery to remove the tumor isn’t possible, arterial embolization may be used to shrink the tumor. Radiation or chemotherapy can also be part of treatment in addition to surgery. Regardless of treatment, people live long and healthy lives with only one kidney.
If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with kidney cancer or if you have a family history of the condition, give us a call today. Our experts can help you develop the best treatment plan for your condition. Call 1-877-321-8452.
