March is Kidney Cancer Awareness Month

The incidence of kidney cancer is increasing. Many kidney cancers are
detected during procedures for other diseases or conditions.
Kidney cancer rarely causes signs or symptoms in its early stages. In
the later stages, kidney cancer signs and symptoms may include:
  * Blood in your urine, which may appear pink, red or cola colored
  * Back pain just below the ribs that doesn't go away
  * Weight loss
  * Fatigue
  * Intermittent fever
Risk Factors:
  * Older age Your risk of kidney cancer increases as you age.
  * Being male Men are more likely to develop kidney cancer.
  * Smoking Smokers have a greater risk of kidney cancer than
    nonsmokers do. The risk decreases after you quit.
  * Obesity People who are obese have a higher risk of kidney cancer
    than do people who are considered average weight.
  * High blood pressure (hypertension) High blood pressure increases
    your risk of kidney cancer.
  * Chemicals in your workplace Workers who are exposed to certain
    chemicals on the job may have a higher risk of kidney cancer.
    People who work with chemicals such as asbestos and cadmium may
    have an increased risk of kidney cancer.
  * Treatment for kidney failure People who receive long-term dialysis
    to treat chronic kidney failure have a greater risk of developing
    kidney cancer.
  * Von Hippel-Lindau disease People with this inherited disorder are
    likely to develop several kinds of tumors, including, in some
    cases, kidney cancer.
   *Hereditary papillary renal cell carcinoma Having this inherited
    condition makes it more likely you'll develop one or more kidney
    cancers.
 This is another very important reason to see your Family Physician for
yearly screenings!