Kidney Cancer

Water means life for living creatures. And some organs such as kidneys are responsible for filtering this water and waste products - also they produce urine. And sometimes, when cancerous malign cells are placed in the kidneys, they cause diseases including cancer.

Kidney cancer is a form of cancer that occurs around the kidneys. There are various types of kidney cancer, but renal cell carcinoma is the most common and known one. However, it may differ from patient to patient.

In this article, we will learn about the causes, types, signs, and symptoms, and other additional information about kidney cancer, and more in general.

Causes of Kidney Cancer

The exact causes are unknown in most forms of cancer - including kidney cancer as well. However, some factors may increase the risk and risk factors. They can be listed as:

• Obesity: Increasing weight may increase the risk of kidney cancer because of the excess fat in the body.
• Smoking: Since the harmful chemicals in tobacco increase the risk, smokers are at high risk when compared to non-smokers.
• Family history: If cancer takes or took place in the family history, the risk may increase. Therefore, some genetic factors would be researched.

Types of Kidney Cancer

As mentioned in the introduction paragraph, the most common and known type of kidney cancer is renal cell carcinoma (RCC). Here is a mini list:

• Renal cell carcinoma (RCC): RCC occurs around the tubes that filter water and waste products from the blood. Some RCC types exist such as clear cell carcinoma, papillary carcinoma, and chromophobe carcinoma - all have different characteristics from each other.
• Sarcomatoid renal cell carcinoma: Sarcomatoid renal cell carcinoma is known as a highly aggressive form of the RCC.

Treatment Options for Kidney Cancer

The treatment options for kidney cancer depend on some factors such as the situation of the patient, the stage of the cancer, etc. But the main treatments can be listed as:

• Surgery: Surgery is mostly the first option for kidney cancer, and generally aims to remove the cancerous kidney along with the affected tissues.
• Radiation therapy: Radiation therapy may be recommended by your doctor when you have one kidney and are not suitable for surgery.

Generally, chemotherapy is not listed as the standard treatment for kidney cancer.

Prevention and Risk Reduction Strategies for Kidney Cancer

Since the exact cause of kidney cancer is unknown, prevention may become a problematic issue. However, some lifestyle changes can help with risk reduction. Here is a mini list of prevention and risk reduction strategies:

• Avoid smoking: Smoking means the risk of cancer. Quitting or avoiding smoking would be helpful to your overall health. To quit, you can consult certain places to get help.
• Healthy diet: Since obesity is associated with cancer, you should make a healthy diet with the help of professionals. Eating healthily and staying hydrated is essential to maintain a good lifestyle.
• Do light exercises: Doing light exercises such as walking, swimming, jogging, etc. can help you to maintain your weight and overall shape.

Living with Kidney Cancer: Coping Strategies and Support

When the patients hear the word “cancer”, it would be an emotional rollercoaster - feeling lost and don’t know what to do. However, there are some coping strategies and support available to those living with kidney cancer.

• Learn about the disease: You can consult your doctor to learn more about the disease, and you can also read or watch the sources that your doctor would provide. You can consider this option to educate yourself.
• Support: Of course, it’s normal to feel lost, don’t know what to do, anger and anxiety mixed with sadness. You can consider receiving support from your beloved ones such as friends, family, or therapy-based support groups.

Please remember that everyone has different coping mechanisms. Don’t be shy about the receive help and reaching out to your beloved ones.

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