Risk Factors
Most patients don’t have an identifiable risk factor. However, kidney cancer has been linked to:
- Smoking
- Having certain genetic conditions, such as von Hippel-Lindau disease or hereditary papillary renal cell carcinoma
- Being exposed to certain dyes and chemicals used in making leather goods, textiles, plastics, and rubber
Making a diagnosis of kidney cancer may involve different approaches. The following tests and procedures may be used:
- Physical exam and history to examine the patient’s past illnesses and treatments, and any signs of disease, or abnormalities.
- MRI or CT Scan for detailed pictures inside the body.
- Ultrasound: Imaging using sound waves instead of radiation to identify abnormal areas in the kidneys, or ureters.
- Laboratory tests, including:
- Urinalysis: This test looks at a urine sample for its color and content, such as sugar, protein, red and white blood cells.
- Urine cytology: A urine sample is examined under a microscope for abnormal cells.
- Blood chemistry studies: A blood sample is checked to measure the amounts of certain substances released into the blood by the kidneys. An unusually higher or lower than normal amount can be a sign of kidney disease.
- Liver function test: A blood sample is checked to look for unusual amounts of certain enzymes that might indicate the that cancer has spread to the liver.
- Ureteroscopy: A ureteroscope is inserted through the urethra into the bladder, ureter and renal pelvis. A tool may be inserted through the ureteroscope to biopsy tissue samples to be checked under a microscope for signs of disease.
After kidney cancer has been diagnosed, additional tests may be done to determine if the cancer has spread to other parts of the body.
The power of healthy living is hard to overestimate. A large percentage of cancers and many other chronic diseases can be prevented by things like eating a healthy diet, getting regular exercise, keeping weight in check, and getting important screening tests.
The best part? These are things under your control. Take some simple steps to improve your health, and help your family do the same.
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