Today’s blog will be about the kidneys and the 2011 kidney cancer statistics. I also will give you an update on my 14-year commitments.
What is kidney cancer?
Kidney cancer is a cancer that starts in the kidneys. To understand more about kidney cancer, it helps to know about the normal structure and function of the kidneys.
About the kidneys
The kidneys are a pair of bean-shaped organs, each about the size of a fist and weighing about 4 to 5 ounces. They are fixed to the upper back wall of the abdominal cavity. One kidney is just to the left and the other just to the right of the spine. Both are protected by the lower ribcage.
The kidney’s main job is to filter the blood to remove excess water, salt, and waste products. These substances become urine. Urine travels from the kidneys to the bladder through long slender tubes called ureters. The place where the ureter meets the kidney is called the renal pelvis. The urine is stored in the bladder until you urinate.
The kidneys also help to make sure the body has enough red blood cells. It does this by making a hormone called erythropoietin, which tells the bone marrow to make more red blood cells.
Our kidneys are important, but we actually need less than one complete kidney to function. Tens of thousands of people in the United States are living normal healthy lives with just one kidney. Some people may not have any working kidneys at all, and survive with the help of a medical procedure called dialysis. Dialysis uses a specially designed machine that filters the blood like a real kidney would.
2011 kidney cancer statistics [Reference: National Cancer Institute]
- There is no known absolute cause for the development of kidney cancer and no known absolute cure for kidney cancer.
- 60,920 were diagnosed with kidney cancer [37,120 men and 23,800 women] and 13,120 died of the disease.
- There are currently 296,074 individuals living today in the US with kidney cancer
- The median age of diagnosis is 64 and the median age of death is 71.
- Based on current rates, 1.5% of men and women born today will be diagnosed with kidney cancer in their lifetime.
Commitments Update: [1999 to 2012]
As you can see from my 14-year commitments status I have received new donations since my last week’s update – my 14-year total is now at $84,539.00 – if you would like to join the 1,094 people who have donated over the last 14 years please click here. I am now closer to my goal of running more miles than the circumference of the earth as I have now run 23,862 miles over the last14 years.
BOB REBELLO’s 14-YEAR COMMITMENTS AND STATUS [05/23/1999 to 12/31/2012]
Status: OPEN - Raised $84,539.00 – I only need $15,461.00 to meet my commitment.
Status: COMPLETE – The $84,539.00 raised went directly to kidney cancer research as I paid all of the expenses. [Air, Hotel, Stamps, Printing, Photos, etc.]
Status: COMPLETE – I brought worldwide awareness about kidney cancer through my travels and my website that has had 5,650 visits from over 100 countries and all 50 US States. I also have 2,450 followers on Twitter.
Status: COMPLETE – I finished marathons on all 7 continents.
Status: OPEN – Finished 17 marathons in 13 countries. Also finished11 half marathons, 5 10k’s, & 7 5k’s for my charity.
Status: OPEN – I have run 23,862 miles – I only need to run 1,039.5 miles over the next 9 months.
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You can follow my weekly progress on: Twitter, Facebook
Have a great day,
Bob Rebello
