Feeling very tired or having a general feeling of poor health
Most often, these symptoms do not mean cancer. An infection, a cyst, or
another problem also can cause the same symptoms. A person with any of these
symptoms should see a doctor so that any problem can be diagnosed and treated as
early as possible.
Diagnosis
If a patient has symptoms that suggest kidney cancer, the doctor may perform
one or more of the following procedures:
Physical exam: The doctor
checks general signs of health and tests for fever and high blood pressure.
The doctor also feels the abdomen and side for tumors.
Urine tests: Urine is
checked for blood and other signs of disease.
Blood tests: The lab
checks the blood to see how well the kidneys are working. The lab may check
the level of several substances, such as creatinine. A high level of
creatinine may mean the kidneys are not doing their job.
Intravenous pyelogram
(IVP): The doctor injects dye into a vein in the arm. The dye travels
through the body and collects in the kidneys. The dye makes them show up on
x-rays. A series of x-rays then tracks the dye as it moves through the kidneys
to the ureters and bladder. The x-rays can show a kidney tumor or other
problems.
CT scan (CAT scan): An
x-ray machine linked to a computer takes a series of detailed pictures of the
kidneys. The patient may receive an injection of dye so the kidneys show up
clearly in the pictures. A CT
scan can show a kidney tumor.
Ultrasound test: The ultrasound device uses sound
waves that people cannot hear. The waves bounce off the kidneys, and a
computer uses the echoes to create a picture called a sonogram. A solid tumor
or cyst shows up on a sonogram.
Biopsy: In some cases,
the doctor may do a biopsy. A biopsy is the removal of tissue to look for
cancer cells. The doctor inserts a thin needle through the skin into the
kidney to remove a small amount of tissue. The doctor may use ultrasound or
x-rays to guide the needle. A pathologist uses a microscope to look for cancer
cells in the tissue.
Surgery: In most cases, based on the results of the CT
scan, ultrasound, and x-rays, the doctor has enough information to recommend
surgery to remove part or all of the kidney. A pathologist makes the final
diagnosis by examining the tissue under a microscope.
Kidney Cancer - Symptoms At Onset Of DiseaseQuestion: The symptoms of kidney cancer can vary greatly from patient to patient. What were your symptoms at the onset of your disease?
High blood pressure, also known as hypertension, is a repeatedly
elevated blood pressure exceeding 140 over 90 mmHg -- a systolic pressure above
140 with a diastolic pressure above 90. There are two causes of high blood pressure, primary and secondary. Primary high blood pressure is much more common that secondary and its basic causes or underlying defects are not always known. It is known that a diet high in salt increases the risk for high blood pressure, as well as high cholesterol. Genetic factors are also a primary cause. Secondary high blood pressure is generally caused by another condition such as renal hypertension, tumors, and other conditions. Treatment for high blood pressure is generally lifestyle changes and if necessary, diet.
Although a fever technically is any body temperature above the normal of 98.6 degrees F. (37 degrees C.), in practice a person is usually not considered to have a significant fever until the temperature is above 100.4 degrees F (38 degrees C.). Fever is part of the body's own disease-fighting arsenal: rising body temperatures apparently are capable of killing off many disease- producing organisms.
Polycythemia (elevated red blood cell count) causes are either primary (aquired or genetic mutations) or secondary (diseases, conditions, high altitude). Treatment of polycythemia depends on the cause.
Cancer is a disease caused by an abnormal growth of cells, also called malignancy. It is a group of 100 different diseases, and is not contagious. Cancer can be treated through chemotherapy, a treatment of drugs that destroy cancer cells.
Obesity is the state of being well above one's normal weight. A person has traditionally been
considered to be obese if they are more than 20 percent over their ideal weight.
That ideal weight must take into account the person's height, age, sex, and
build.
Smoking is an addiction. More than 430,000 deaths occur each year in the U.S. from smoking related illnesses. Secondhand smoke or "passive smoke" also harm family members, coworkers, and others around smokers. There are a number of techniques available to assist people who want to quit smoking.
Though it's difficult to say why some people develop cancer while others don't, research shows that certain risk factors increase a person's odds of developing cancer. These risk factors include growing older, family history of cancer, diet, alcohol and tobacco use, and exposure to sunlight, ionizing radiation, certain chemicals, and some viruses and bacteria.
Arsenic comes in two forms, inorganic and organic. Organic arsenic poisoning is usually not poisonous to humans; however, inorganic arsenic in large enough amounts can lead to shock and death. Symptoms of arsenic poisoning include nausea, abdominal pain, diarrhea, dehydration, dark urine, vertigo, delirium, shock, and death. Treatment for arsenic poisoning includes Hemodialysis and a variety of drugs.
Asbestos exposure lung disease is divided into three main types, asbestosis (lung scarring caused by asbestos fibers), disease of the lining of the lung (pleural plaques, scarring, or fluid accumulation), and lung cancer. Mesothelioma is cancer of the lining of the lung caused by asbestos exposure. Cancers of the larynx, throat, kidney, esophagus, and gallbladder have been linked to asbestos exposure. Treatment is dependant upon the type of condition related to asbestos exposure.
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