Kidney cancer is a disease that affects thousands of adults throughout the United States. This form of cancer develops when malignant tumors form in the kidneys, usually in the tubules.

Early diagnosis of kidney cancer is important. As with most types of cancer, the earlier the tumor is discovered, the better a patient's chances for survival. Tumors discovered at an early stage often respond well to treatment. Survival rates in such cases are high. Tumors that have grown large or spread (metastasized) through the bloodstream or lymphatic system to other parts of the body are more difficult to treat and present an increased risk for mortality.

Common Causes of Kidney Cancer
While doctors don't know the causes of kidney cancer, it appears there are certain factors that increase the risk of developing it. Most often, kidney cancer occurs in people 40 and over.

Risk factors include:

• Smoking: a smoker's risk for kidney cancer is twice that of a nonsmoker; smoking cigars may also increase your risk.
• Gender: males are about twice as likely as women to get kidney cancer.
• Obesity: being over weight may cause changes to hormones that increase your risk.
• Pain medications: long-term use of certain pain medications; including over-the-counter drugs as well as prescription drugs.
• Advanced kidney disease: or being on long term dialysis.
• Genetics: certain genetic conditions, such as von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) disease or inherited papillary renal cell carcinoma.
• Family history: the risk is especially high in siblings.
• Exposure to certain chemicals: asbestos, cadmium, benzene, organic solvents, or certain herbicides
• High blood pressure: doctors don't know whether high blood pressure or the medication used to treat it is the source of the increased risk.
• Lymphoma: there is an increased risk of kidney cancer in patients with lymphoma.

Common Symptoms of Kidney Cancer
In many cases, people may have no early symptoms of kidney cancer. As the tumor grows larger, symptoms may appear. These could include:

• Blood in your urine
• A lump in your side or abdomen
• A loss of appetite
• A pain in your side that doesn't go away
• Weight loss that occurs for no known reason
• Fever that lasts for weeks and isn't caused by a cold or other infection
• Extreme fatigue
• Anemia
• Swelling in your ankles or legs

Kidney cancer that spreads to other parts of your body may cause other symptoms, such as, shortness of breath, coughing up blood, or bone pain.

Kidney cancer patients are seen in Poughkeepsie, Fishkill, Kingston, and Rhinebeck offices.