Cancer of the Kidneys

Cancer of the kidney is called, in most cases, renal cell carcinoma and the vast majority comprise so-called clear cell carcinoma. This was formerly called Hypernephroma, because it was thought (wrongly) to arise from cells from the adrenal gland which sits on top of the kidney. Provided that the cancer has not spread (which is the case in round about 70 per cent), surgery to remove the kidney may be curative. This tumour tends to occur after the age of 50 and is more common in males, and although it may cause abdominal pain and blood in the urine it may produce no symptoms. Some produce hormones which may cause syndromes such as hypercalcaemia (high levels of calcium in the blood) or polycythaemia (an increase in the number of red blood cells - see blood and circulation in the chest cavity section). The kidney may also be affected by other cancers such as lymphoma, or those which have spread from elsewhere.
 
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