Get to know your kidneys is the message of this year's kidney week which concludes tomorrow.
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According to Kidney Health Australia 56 people die with kidney-related disease every day, more than breast cancer, prostate cancer or even road deaths.
The association said there was no cure once the kidneys had failed and believed prevention was better than a cure.
Narromine's Rodney Jones agrees.
Mr Jones is hooked up to dialysis at Narromine Hospital for six hours a day, three days a week.
Although it's too late for him, Mr Jones stresses the importance of looking after kidneys.
"Bloody oath look after your kidneys, get blood pressure checks and increase physical activity," he said.
CEO of Kidney Health Australia, Anne Wilson said Australians needed to pay attention to their kidneys,
"The kidneys are a vital organ, just like the heart, brain or lungs, if they shut down your body shuts down," she said.
"The kidneys are a vital organ, just like the heart, brain or lungs, if they shut down your body shuts down
- CEO of Kidney Health Australia, Anne Wilson
"It is time for Australians to meet their kidneys, understand the devastating impact kidney disease has on the body and learn about the links between kidney disease and other chronic conditions such as high blood pressure."
Kidney Health Australia said adult Australians were at risk if they had high blood pressure or diabetes, were of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander origin, had diabetes, smoked, had established heart problems, were over 60, had a family history of kidney failure or were obese.
The association said although there was no cure for kidney failure if kidney disease was found early, medication, dietary and lifestyle changes could increase the life of your kidneys and keep a patient feeling their best for as long as possible.
Rose Mortimer travels out to Narromine from Dubbo to run the dialysis machines.
Ms Mortimer said every health professional in Narromine was on board to combat kidney disease.
"Prevention is better than cure," she said.