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Kidney Cancer Overview
What Is Kidney Cancer?
Kidney cancer is a disease in which cancerous cells develop in the tissues of the kidney. Kidney cancer occurs when cells in the kidney grow out of control, clump together and form a malignant tumor.
The kidneys are two large, bean-shaped organs -- one located to the left, and the other to the right of the backbone. Kidney cancer may also be referred to as renal cancer.
There are two main types of primary kidney cancer in adults:
1. renal cell cancer2. transitional cell cancer
Symptoms
* Blood in the urine* Flank pain on one or both sides
* Excessive urination at night
* Abdominal pain or tenderness
Additional symptoms that may be associated with this disease include the following:
* Nail abnormalities* Painful menstruation
* Joint pain
* Drowsiness
* High blood pressure
Treatment
Currently, no treatment can prevent the cysts from forming or enlarging. Treatment goals are the reduction of symptoms and prevention of complications.
Hypertension may be difficult to control, but control of it is the most important aspect of treatment. Treatment may include antihypertensive and/or diuretic medications, low-salt diet, or other treatments.
Any urinary tract infection should be treated promptly with appropriate antibiotics.
Any symptoms of anemia may be treated with iron and other supplements, erythropoietin administration, or blood transfusion.
Surgical or radiologic drainage of cysts may be indicated because of pain, bleeding, infection, or obstruction. (There are usually too many cysts to make removal a feasible alternative.)
Surgical removal of one or both kidneys may be required. Treatment of end-stage kidney disease may include kidney dialysis or kidney transplantation.
Expectations (prognosis)
Polycystic kidney disease progresses slowly but persistently. Medical treatment may provide relief of symptoms for many years. Eventual end-stage kidney failure is common.
The absence of systemic disease or autoimmune disease makes people with polycystic kidney disease good candidates for kidney transplantation.