Kidney cancers, also called renal cancer is a disease in which kidney cells become malignant (cancerous) and grows out of control, forming a tumor. Almost all kidney cancers first appear in the lining of tiny tubes (tubules) in the kidney. This type of kidney cancer is called renal cell carcinoma. The good news is that most of these cancers are found before they spread (metastasize) to distant organs. And cancers caught early are easier to treat successfully. However, these tumors can grow to be quite large before they are detected.
The kidneys are two bean-shaped organs, each about the size of a fist. They lie in your lower abdomen on each side of your spine. Their main job is to clean your blood, removing waste products and making urine.
Doctors don’t know the causes of kidney cancer. But certain factors appear to increase the risk of getting kidney cancer. For example, kidney cancer occurs most often in people older than age 40. These are some other risk factors for kidney cancer:
Kidney cancer that spreads to other parts of your body may cause other symptoms, such as:
Your prognosis depends on your age and general health as well as the grade and stage of your kidney cancer. These are the stages of kidney cancer. The higher the stage, the more advanced the cancer.
Stage I: A tumor 7 centimeters or smaller that is only in the kidney
Stage II: A tumor larger than 7 centimeters that is only in the kidney
Stage III: A tumor that is in the kidney and in one nearby lymph node, or
A tumor that is in an adrenal gland — the gland sits right above the kidney — or in a layer of fatty tissue around the kidney and may also be in one nearby lymph node, or
A tumor that is in the kidney’s main blood vessel and may also be in one nearby lymph node.
Stage IV: Cancer has spread beyond the fatty layer of tissue around the kidney, and it may also be in one nearby lymph node, or
Cancer may have spread to two or more nearby lymph nodes, or
Cancer may have spread to other organs. These may include the bowel, pancreas, or lungs. It may also be found in nearby lymph nodes.
Once you have a diagnosis and know your stage of kidney cancer, you and your doctor can plan treatment. Your doctor may refer you to a specialist for treatment. This could include an urologist, a medical or radiation oncologist, or a surgeon. Kidney cancer is one of the more common cancers to undergo spontaneous remission. However, the incidence is quite low (approximately 0.5%). There are several standard types of treatment for kidney cancer. In most cases, surgery is the first step. Even if surgery removes the entire tumor, though, your doctor may suggest an extra treatment to kill any remaining cancer cells that can’t be seen.
These are the main types of surgery for kidney cancer. Which type you have depends on how advanced your cancer is.
For inoperable kidney tumors, radiofrequency ablation (RFA) offers a nonsurgical, localized treatment that kills the tumor cells with heat, while sparing the healthy kidney tissue. This treatment is much easier on the patient and is more effective than systemic therapy. Radiofrequency energy can be given without affecting the patient’s overall health and most people can resume their usual activities in a few days. In this procedure, the interventional radiologist guides a small needle through the skin into the tumor. From the tip of the needle, radiofrequency energy is transmitted into the tumor, where it produces heat and kills the tumor cells. The dead tumor tissue shrinks and slowly turns into a scar.
Dr Mahendra Jain is an eminent and an extremely experienced Urologist ...
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