Cancer Overview of Cancer Cancer is the out-of-control growth of cells in your body. Cells are the tiny building blocks of your body. Cells specialize in what they do. For example, your intestines have muscle cells to... read more is the out-of-control growth of cells in your body. Cells are the tiny building blocks of your body. Cells specialize in what they do. Different organs are made of different kinds of cells. Almost any kind of cell can become cancerous.
What is kidney cancer?
Kidneys are the 2 bean-shaped organs that make urine. Kidney cancer is the out-of-control growth of cells in your kidney.
Smokers have a higher chance of getting kidney cancer
Twice as many men than women get kidney cancer
You may have blood in your urine, pain in your side, and a fever
Doctors do surgery to remove all or part of your kidney
The Urinary Tract
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What are the symptoms of kidney cancer?
The most common first symptom is:
Blood in your urine—your urine may be red or the amount of blood may be so tiny that it can only be seen under a microscope
Other symptoms include:
Pain in your side and back, near your rib cage (your flank area)
Weight loss
How do doctors tell if I have kidney cancer?
Doctors often find kidney cancer by chance when they do a test for another health problem.
If doctors suspect kidney cancer, they’ll do a CT scan Computed Tomography A CT scan uses a large machine shaped like a large donut to take x-rays from many angles. A computer then takes the x-rays and creates many detailed pictures of the inside of your body. Each... read more 
or MRI Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) MRI is a test that uses a machine with a powerful magnet to make pictures of the inside of your body. A computer records changes in the magnetic field around your body. The computer then uses... read more 
to know for sure. Once in a while, doctors feel a lump in your kidney when examining you.
If you have kidney cancer, doctors will do other tests to see if your cancer has spread.
How do doctors treat kidney cancer?
If the cancer is only in your kidney, doctors will:
Take out the tumor or the whole kidney
Kidney cancer tends to spread through your body quickly. If the cancer has spread, doctors will do:
Immunotherapy Immunotherapy for Cancer Immunotherapy is a cancer treatment that uses your own immune system to fight your cancer. Your immune system consists of cells, tissues, and organs that protect your body from illness and infection... read more —medicine that helps your immune system Overview of the Immune System The immune system is your body's defense system. It helps protect you from illness and infection. The immune system's job is to attack things that don’t belong in your body, including: Germs... read more fight the cancer
