Renal cell carcinoma, the medical name of kidney cancer has various forms which includes of clear cell, transitional cell, papillary, sacromatoid, and many others. The disease can prove to be fatal if not diagnosed and treated at the right time. It is precisely categorized into four basic stages which are inclusive of: Stage 1: This is the most primary stage of the cancer. The tumor in the kidney in this stage measures to about 2 ¾ inches in size, no larger than a tennis ball. In this stage, the cancer cells are restricted only to the kidney. Stage 2: In this early phase of the cancer, only the tumor size expands more than the 2 ¾ inch size. The cells like the previous stage remain restricted to the kidney only. Stage 3: In this stage, either the cancerous tumor does not extend the kidney, but the cancerous cells start spreading in the body through the lymphatic system to the lymph nodes or the tumor enlarges to invade the adrenal gland and the layers of fat that surrounds the kidney. Stage 4: Similar to the above stage, this stage also has either the tumor extend further from the fibrous tissues which surround the kidney or has the cancerous cells spread across the other places of the body. Causes: The disease is believed to be caused either due to certain external factors which happen to indirectly affect the kidney. A few of these causes include obesity, smoking, high blood pressure, long term dialysis, etc. are a few which are known to increase the chances of kidney cancer in people. Apart from these external factors, the disease is also believed to have certain genetic links as well as links with the other diseases, some of which are mentioned here below. Von Hippel-Lindau (VHL), a hereditary disorder is believed to increase the risk of developing kidney cancer. Similarly, another disease called the Tuberous sclerosis which is characterized by the tumors of blood vessels that causes seizures, bumps on the skin, cysts in the kidney, liver and the pancreas is also thought to be associated with the kidney cancer. The Birt Hogg Dube Syndrome is one another disease which is found to be associated with the renal cell carcinoma. The disease is characterized by the bumps in the skin nodules of the ears, nose, neck, forehead and cheeks.The symptoms of renal cell carcinoma also vary from person to person.