Kidney cancer is one of the most common forms of the disease in the UK, but patients often don’t realise they have it until it gets picked up by an unrelated medical test…CONTINUE READING>>...CONTINUE READING THE FULL ARTICLE>>>
There are around 13,000 new cases every year and the NHS
says it usually affects adults in their 60s or 70s, and is rare in people under 50. It can often be cured if found early enough, but can be harder to treat if it has spread beyond the kidney.
Part of the urinary system, the kidneys filter waste products out of the blood and make urine. Cancer Research UK
says kidney disease has around a 52 per cent survival rate, with some 34 per cent of cases deemed preventable.
Unfortunately, despite its prevalence, kidney cancer often goes unnoticed as around half of cases don’t display any symptoms, according to the NHS.
Cancer Research UK has listed some warning signs which could point towards the disease:
The most common symptom of kidney cancer is blood in your urine (known as haematuria).
“It might be caused by an infection, enlargement of the prostate or kidney stones,” the charity says. “Always see your GP if you notice any blood in your urine.
“The blood does not have to be there all the time. It can come and go. Sometimes, the blood cannot be seen by the naked eye but can be picked up by a simple urine test.
“As the bleeding can come and go, you or your doctor may think that the problem has gone away. This can mean that an early, treatable cancer in the kidney or bladder is allowed to grow to a stage where it may be more difficult to treat.”
Cancer can cause a lump or mass in the kidney area.The charity states: “If you feel a lump or swelling in the area of your kidneys, go straight to your doctor.
“Most kidney cancers are too small for you or a doctor to feel. But your doctor can arrange an ultrasound scan to check for cancer.”
There are less specific symptoms that could mean you have kidney cancer, including tiredness, weight loss and a pain in your back on one side (below the ribs) that won’t go away.
There are less specific symptoms that could mean you have kidney cancer including:
You should see your GP as quickly as possible if you find blood in your urine, a lump in the kidney area or if you experience other unexplained symptoms.
Usually, it’s unclear why someone has developed kidney cancer, but there are a number of factors that can increase your risk…CONTINUE READING>>
