The kidney, which is located on the back of the stomach and consists of two organs, plays a role in excreting wastes and is one of the important organs that maintain homeostasis in the body such as water content, electrolytes, and acidity. It also plays a role in the endocrine function that produces and activates several hormones that are important for normal metabolism. Renal cancer refers to a malignant tumor that occurs in the kidney. Depending on the location of the tumor, it is divided into a tumor occurring in the renal parenchyma and a renal pelvic cancer occurring in the renal pelvis. In addition, kidney cancer is a cancer with a high incidence rate, accounting for about 2.4% of all adult cancers, and it is known that the incidence rate is high among the elderly in their 60s and 70s. Kidney cancer is mainly caused by lifestyle, environmental factors, genetic factors, and existing diseases. Lifestyle-related factors include smoking, obesity, and high blood pressure, which are typical risk factors. Dietary habits that consume excessive animal fat also have an effect on cancer incidence. In addition, genetic factors are sometimes caused by abnormalities of several chromosomes, and it is known that the occurrence of existing diseases increases the risk of cancer when receiving hemodialysis for a long time. Now, let’s learn about the main symptoms that appear when kidney cancer occurs, as well as various information related to treatment and prevention.
Kidney Cancer Main Symptoms
Kidney cancer symptoms rarely appear when the tumor is small, and symptoms develop slowly when the tumor grows to a certain extent. It corresponds to the main symptoms that occur when pain in the flank occurs continuously, hematuria in which blood is mixed in the urine, and a lump in the abdomen occurs. All three of these symptoms occur in about 10 to 15% of cases, and it often occurs when kidney cancer has already advanced significantly or has metastasized to other organs. In addition, symptoms such as cough, shortness of breath, and headache often appear depending on the site of metastasis.
In addition, kidney cancer is known to be a difficult cancer to treat that does not respond well to other treatments such as chemotherapy and radiation therapy. This is because the kidney is a retroperitoneal organ located outside the peritoneum. Most organs in our body are surrounded by a membrane called the peritoneum, whereas organs such as the kidneys, pancreas, and aorta do not have a peritoneum, so it is easy to metastasize and hardly causes symptoms even if the cancer progresses. Because of these characteristics, kidney cancer is often discovered incidentally during tests for other diseases. In the case of kidney cancer that was discovered incidentally during a health check-up, if it is detected early, there is a high chance of a cure. In the case of stage 1 kidney cancer, the 5-year survival rate is known to be 80-100%, and if it has metastasized to the lymph nodes, the 5-year survival rate will be lowered to less than 30%. In case of distant metastasis to the bone or lung, the 1-year survival rate is reported to be less than 50%. Therefore, for early detection of kidney cancer, regular check-ups are essential starting from the age of 40 or older, and it is important to improve lifestyle and environmental factors that cause cancer.
Kidney Cancer Treatment and Prevention
1. Diagnosis and examination
Kidney cancer is often detected through medical examinations, and ultrasound is usually the most widely used test method. And if a tumor material in the kidney is found on ultrasound, an examination such as an abdominal CT will be performed to check the condition of the tumor more accurately and to determine whether it has metastasized to the lymph nodes and surrounding organs. In addition, depending on the results of various tests, if the tumor is not large, laparoscopic resection surgery is sometimes performed. will do. In the case of metastasis to other organs or recurrent renal cell carcinoma, the tumor is excised, various surgical treatments are performed to prevent metastasis, and targeted therapy and immunotherapy are performed at the same time. And if surgical treatment is not possible due to multiple metastases, only symptomatic treatment or targeted treatment may be performed.
2. No smoking
Smoking is a risk factor that greatly affects the development of kidney cancer as it has been confirmed in several epidemiological studies. Studies have shown that the amount of smoking and duration of smoking are proportional to the incidence of kidney cancer. In addition, smoking is a risk factor closely related to the occurrence of other cancers such as laryngeal cancer, oral cancer, and lung cancer, so it is recommended to quit smoking.
3. Controlling Excessive Animal Fat Intake
Kidney cancer is not a cancer that has a very high association with diet compared to cancers such as colorectal cancer, but several studies have shown that excessive consumption of animal fat, consumption of too much fried or grilled meat, and consumption of high-calorie foods can cause kidney cancer. It has been reported to be closely related to the In particular, excessive consumption of these foods is a representative factor in causing obesity, which is known to be associated with the development of kidney cancer by 20%. In addition, excessive intake of animal fat is also a cause of exacerbation of high blood pressure, which affects the development of kidney cancer, so it is recommended to control intake, eat fruits and vegetables, and make a habit of eating a low-calorie diet.
In addition, it is said that regular exercise is a management habit that helps prevent kidney cancer and helps in recovery after surgery. However, if you do excessive exercise or exercise that involves a lot of physical contact, bone that has been weakened by cancer metastasis may fracture and pathological fractures may occur. it’s good to do. In addition, it is important to make efforts to manage blood pressure regularly in order to prevent the occurrence of kidney cancer caused by high blood pressure.
