National Cancer Institute National Cancer Institute
U.S. National Institutes of Health National Cancer Institute
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What You Need To Know About™ Kidney Cancer
    Posted: 03/30/2004
Introduction

This National Cancer Institute (NCI) booklet (NIH Publication No. 03-1569) has important information about cancer* of the kidney. It discusses possible causes, symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment. It also has information to help patients cope with kidney cancer.

Scientists are studying kidney cancer to learn more about this disease. They are finding out more about its causes, and doctors also are exploring new ways to treat it. This research keeps increasing our knowledge about kidney cancer. The NCI provides the most up-to-date information over the telephone and on the Internet:

  • Telephone: Information Specialists at NCI's Cancer Information Service at 1-800-4-CANCER can answer questions about cancer and can send materials published by NCI.
  • Internet: People can ask questions online and get immediate help through LiveHelp 1 on the Internet. Many NCI booklets and fact sheets can be viewed at http://cancer.gov/publications. People in the United States and its territories may use this Web site to order publications. This Web site also explains how people outside the United States can mail or fax their requests for NCI publications.

    • *Words that may be new to readers appear in italics. The "Dictionary 2" section explains these terms. Some words in the "Dictionary" have a "sounds-like" spelling to show how to pronounce them.


    Glossary Terms

    cancer (KAN-ser)
    A term for diseases in which abnormal cells divide without control. Cancer cells can invade nearby tissues and can spread to other parts of the body through the blood and lymph systems. There are several main types of cancer. Carcinoma is cancer that begins in the skin or in tissues that line or cover internal organs. Sarcoma is cancer that begins in bone, cartilage, fat, muscle, blood vessels, or other connective or supportive tissue. Leukemia is cancer that starts in blood-forming tissue such as the bone marrow, and causes large numbers of abnormal blood cells to be produced and enter the blood. Lymphoma and multiple myeloma are cancers that begin in the cells of the immune system. Central nervous system cancers are cancers that begin in the tissues of the brain and spinal cord.


    Table of Links

    1http://cancer.gov/common/popups/livehelp.aspx
    2http://cancer.gov/dictionary