Type of Cancer: Kidney Cancer

What is Kidney Cancer?

Kidney cancer is a type of cancer that starts in the kidneys and spreads
throughout the body. Your kidneys are two bean-shaped organs, each about the
size of your fist. They're behind your abdominal organs, on either side of your
spine, with one kidney on each side.

What are the Causes?

It's not clear what causes most kidney cancers.
Doctors know that kidney cancer starts when the DNA of some kidney cells
changes (mutates). The DNA of a cell includes the instructions that tell it what to
do. The modifications tell the cells to multiply and expand quickly. The aberrant
cells clump together to produce a tumor that can spread beyond the kidney. Some
cells can break off and spread to other places of the body (metastasize).

Symptoms
Kidney cancer usually doesn't have signs or symptoms in its early stages. In time,
signs and symptoms may develop, including:
 Blood in your urine, which may appear pink, red or cola colored
 Pain in your back or side that doesn't go away
 Loss of appetite
 Unexplained weight loss
 Tiredness
 Fever

Prevention
Taking actions to enhance your health can lower your chances of developing
kidney cancer. To lower your risk, attempt to do the following:
Stop smoking. Quit smoking if you're a smoker. Support groups, medications, and
nicotine replacement products are just a few of the choices for quitting smoking.
Maintain a healthy body mass index (BMI). Maintain a healthy body weight.
Reduce the quantity of calories you consume each day.