Kidney cancer, or renal cell carcinoma, is a serious cancer that starts in the kidney cells. It is the top kidney cancer type in grown-ups. This cancer usually begins in small tubes in the kidney. It then forms a tumor.
Signs of kidney cancer might be spotted early, before spreading. This can help with more successful treatment. The kidneys work to clean the blood and getting rid of waste.
The exact reasons behind kidney cancer are still a mystery. But, some things might make someone more likely to get it. This includes smoking, being male, and obesity. Certain medications over a long time, kidney issues, or dialysis can also up the risk.
Genetic disorders and a family history of kidney cancer play a part too. Exposure to specific chemicals and high blood pressure can increase the risk. Being Black or having lymphoma also raises your chances of getting kidney cancer.
Key Takeaways:
- Kidney cancer, also known as renal cell carcinoma, is the most common type of kidney cancer in adults.
- The cancer originates in the kidney cells, often starting in the lining of the small tubes.
- Early detection of kidney cancer increases the chances of successful treatment.
- Risk factors for kidney cancer include smoking, obesity, certain medications, genetic conditions, and exposure to certain chemicals.
- Kidney cancer is more common among males, those with advanced kidney disease, high blood pressure, and Black individuals.
Kidney Cancer Symptoms and Diagnosis
Kidney cancer can come without early signs. But, as the tumor grows, you might see symptoms. It’s key to know what signs could point to kidney cancer:
- Blood in urine: The leading sign of kidney cancer is blood in the urine. It indicates the tumor could be hurting the kidney.
- Lump in abdomen: Some might notice a lump in their stomach. This lump could be from a tumor in the kidney.
- Loss of appetite: A reduced appetite and weight loss can also be symptoms of kidney cancer.
- Pain in side: On-going pain in the body’s side, particularly the back or stomach, could signal kidney cancer.
- Persistent fever: A never-ending fever with no clear cause can be a sign of kidney cancer.
- Extreme fatigue: If you’re feeling very tired all the time, kidney cancer might be the cause.
- Anemia: Anemia, leading to weakness and low energy, is a possible effect of kidney cancer.
- Swelling in ankles or legs: In later stages, fluid retention may cause ankles or legs to swell.
If you notice any of these signs, see a doctor. Diagnosing kidney cancer involves many steps. These include:
- Physical exam: Doctors will look closely at the abdomen and nearby spots for lumps or other signs.
- Health history: Sharing your health history, especially about cancer in the family, can aid diagnosis.
- Urine tests: Tests on urine look for blood, protein, or other signs of kidney cancer.
- Blood tests: Blood tests help check kidney function and look for cancer markers.
- Imaging tests: Tests like ultrasound, CT, MRI, and others may be used to see the kidneys and tumors.
- Biopsy: A biopsy might be done. It involves taking a small kidney tissue sample to view under a microscope. This is to confirm cancer.
After a kidney cancer diagnosis, more tests might be needed to know the cancer’s stage. A person’s overall health and the cancer stage affect the outlook.
Kidney Cancer Treatment Options
The usual way to treat kidney cancer is with surgery. The surgery type needed changes with the tumor’s size and stage. Here are the main surgery options:
- Radical nephrectomy: This surgery removes the whole kidney. It also takes away the adrenal gland and some nearby lymph nodes.
- Simple nephrectomy: Only the kidney that’s affected is taken out in this surgery.
- Partial nephrectomy: With this, just the tumor and some healthy tissue are removed.
If surgery won’t work or isn’t an option, there are other ways to treat kidney cancer. These options include:
- Cryotherapy: Freezing the tumor to kill it.
- Radiofrequency ablation: Cooking the tumor with high-energy radio waves.
- Arterial embolization: Blocking the blood flow to the tumor.
- Biologic therapy: This uses your immune system to fight the cancer.
- Targeted therapy: It aims at cancer cells with little harm to healthy cells.
- Immunotherapy: Making your immune system better at recognizing and attacking the cancer.
For targeted therapy, doctors may use multikinase inhibitors and m-TOR inhibitors for kidney cancer.
Comparison of Kidney Cancer Treatment Options
| Treatment Option | Description |
|---|---|
| Radical nephrectomy | Removes the entire kidney along with surrounding tissue, adrenal gland, and nearby lymph nodes. |
| Simple nephrectomy | Removes only the affected kidney. |
| Partial nephrectomy | Removes the tumor along with a portion of healthy tissue. |
| Cryotherapy | Uses extreme cold temperatures to kill the tumor. |
| Radiofrequency ablation | Uses high-energy radio waves to “cook” the tumor. |
| Arterial embolization | Blocks blood flow to the tumor. |
| Biologic therapy | Uses the immune system to fight cancer. |
| Targeted therapy | Targets cancer cells with less toxicity to normal cells. |
| Immunotherapy | Helps the immune system recognize and destroy cancer cells. |
| Multikinase inhibitors | Specific drugs used in targeted therapy for kidney cancer. |
| m-TOR inhibitors | Specific drugs used in targeted therapy for kidney cancer. |
Doctors choose treatments based on your health and what’s best for you. It’s important to talk with your healthcare team about the different treatments. This helps you make the right choice in fighting kidney cancer.
Conclusion
Kidney cancer is becoming a bigger problem around the world. Knowing its signs is vital. When symptoms show, getting checked by a doctor early is key. This greatly improves the chances of beating the disease.
The way kidney cancer is treated depends on its stage. Mostly, it’s tackled through surgery, which can work very well. Yet, there are other methods like cryotherapy and targeted therapy. Each is designed to fight the cancer in different ways.
If you’re worried about kidney cancer, or think you might have it, see a doctor. They can do tests and pick the best treatment for you. This ensures the approach is tailored to your particular situation.