Lack of public awareness of symptoms of kidney cancer

Recent figures have shown that the incidence of kidney cancer in England has increased by 30 per cent over the last decade and public health experts are concerned that there is a lack of awareness among the public of the key symptoms of the disease.

Blood in the urine is a major symptom in more than half of kidney cancer cases and other symptoms include a persistent pain below the ribs and stomach lumps.

Director of Health and Wellbeing at Public Health England Professor Kevin Fenton says: “Receiving an early diagnosis increases the chance of survival for the 16,600 people who are diagnosed with bladder of kidney cancer every year in England.”

Surveys have shown that almost 30 per cent of people would wait and see if they spotted blood in the urine more than once before taking any action, potentially delaying diagnosis and reducing the chance of survival. When kidney cancer is diagnosed at the earliest stage the one-year survival rates increase to over 90 per cent.

The way that kidney cancer is managed has changed considerably over the last twenty years and there are now a range treatment options available.

Consultant Interventional Radiologist Dr Rowland Illing comments: “ With the advent of Interventional Oncology and tumour ablation, patients with kidney cancer now have access to a range of highly effective minimally invasive treatment options. However, early diagnosis is key to the success of these new treatments.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The organ that stores urine. Full medical glossary
A fluid that transports oxygen and other substances through the body, made up of blood cells suspended in a liquid. Full medical glossary
Abnormal, uncontrolled cell division resulting in a malignant tumour that may invade surrounding tissues or spread to distant parts of the body. Full medical glossary
The process of determining which condition a patient may have. Full medical glossary
An organ with the ability to make and secrete certain fluids. Full medical glossary
The number of new episodes of a condition arising in a certain group of people over a specified period of time. Full medical glossary
One of two bean-shaped organs that are located on either side of the body, below the ribcage. The main role of the kidneys is to filter out waste products from the blood. Full medical glossary
A tube placed inside a tubular structure in the body, to keep it patent, that is, open. Full medical glossary
the organ or the body where food is stored and broken down Full medical glossary
An abnormal swelling. Full medical glossary