What is Kidney Cancer?

In the majority of cases, the tumor formed in the kidney is benign which is non-cancerous. The primary function of this organ is blood filtration and removal of waste material from the body. It also removes the excess water from the body in the form of urine. Kidney cancer is mostly found in the adult population. There are no visible symptoms of this disease in its early stages. It can be detected by chance while performing imaging tests like CT scans. When cancer cells grow, the human body starts showing signs and symptoms. The male population is more prone to this disease. Any person can get this disease but most cases of kidney cancer are found in African Americans, American Indians, and Alaskan people.

Basic facts to be known about Kidney cancer

● In 2022, around 4,34,840 cases of kidney cancer have been reported across the world.

● India stands in 6th position in the top 10 countries with kidney cancer with 17,840 new cases in 2022.

● There were almost 11,094 males who were diagnosed with kidney cancer in India in 2022.

● Approximately 6,386 females were diagnosed with this disease in 2022 in India.

Signs and symptoms of Kidney Cancer

The symptoms of kidney cancer are not visible in the early stages. The signs of this disease become noticeable to the patient and the doctor in advanced stages. Moreover, the symptoms can only be felt by the patient. The symptoms in the early stages are so mild which results in delayed detection of this disease. These symptoms can also be seen in benign tumors and urinary tract infections. Seek medical advice and get your test done if any of these symptoms appear. Consult your healthcare expert if any of these symptoms appear:

● Continuous pain in the lower back.

● No more willingness to eat food

● blood starts coming with urine

● feeling exhausted most of the time

● recurring fever

● sudden weight loss without any cause

Factors Causing Kidney Cancer

There are various components present in the environment and in the human body that can increase the risk of getting diagnosed with kidney cancer. If a person feels he has 1 or 2 risk factors, it does not mean he is having kidney cancer. This means he is at high risk of getting diagnosed with the disease. Moreover, there are some risk factors that we can change and prevent the disease from growing. In case of genetic changes, a person has no option left other than treatment if diagnosed with the disease. Some of the common factors causing kidney cancer are mentioned below:

● Smoking: It is a leading cause of various diseases.

● Age: Growing age can be considered a risk factor for developing kidney cancer.

● Sex: Men are more prone to getting diagnosed with this cancer as compared to men.

● Genetic changes: Any change in the structure of DNA that is irreversible can elevate the chances of getting this disease.

● Family History: If any person in your bloodline has a history of kidney cancer then there are chances of you getting diagnosed with the same disease.

● High BMI (Body Mass Index): Weight is a major factor when it comes to diseases. Excess body weight in the young stage of life is linked with a higher risk of kidney cancer in later stages.

Type of kidney cancer

A set of kidneys is present in the human body. The uneven growth can take place in any part of the kidneys. Kidney cancer is categorized into different types:

1. Non-cancerous kidney cancer

This type of cancer is called benign or noncancerous kidney tumors. The main point of this cancer is it does not spread to other parts of the body. It is not life-taking cancer as the cells are non-cancerous.

● Oncocytoma: The non-cancerous cells start multiplying in the kidney cells. The tumor starts growing in one or both kidneys.

● Angiomyolipoma: It is a kind of benign fatty tumor that can multiply at a fast rate and cause damage to the surrounding tissues that results in internal bleeding.

2. Renal cell carcinoma

It is the most common kind of kidney cancer found in adults that remains attached to the linings of tiny tubes in the kidney. These tubes are known as renal tubules. In some cases, it can spread to other parts of the body such as the lungs, brain, or bones.

3. Clear cell renal cell carcinoma

This is also termed conventional renal cell carcinoma. The cancerous cells of the tumor appear like bubbles. Most adults are affected with this disease and rarely are any young children detected with renal clear cell carcinoma.

Stages of Kidney Cancer

Once the person is diagnosed with kidney cancer, the treatment is prescribed to him based on the stage of the tumor. The process of detecting how much cancer cells have grown and spread to different parts is known as staging. The stages of kidney cancer are described below:

STAGE 1: The cancerous cells have not spread outside the kidney, and the tumor is no larger than 7 cm.

STAGE 2: The size of the tumor started growing and is more than 7cm. The cancer cells have not spread outside the kidney.

STAGE 3: In this stage, the cancer cells have spread to the lymph nodes, blood vessels, and fatty tissues around the kidney. The size of the tumor is variable and it has started spreading to nearby sites outside of the kidney.

STAGE 4: The cancer has spread to other parts of the body like adrenal glands. It is considered as the last stage of cancer.

Methods used in the detection of Kidney Cancer

Kidney cancer can be detected using the signs and symptoms of the person. The disease can be confirmed using laboratory tests or imaging tests. A person can perform this test for any other reason. Some of the tests are mentioned below:

● Physical examination: The doctor checks the medical history of the patient. He will check for any kind of lumps or swelling near the kidney. He may note all the signs and symptoms and suggest further tests according to the condition.

● Blood tests: This category includes CBC, urine tests, and blood chemistry tests. The findings from these tests indicate the presence of the disease. A person can get to know about his overall health after getting these tests done.

● Imaging tests: These are considered confirmatory tests in case of kidney cancer. If a person is diagnosed with cancer then these tests can show how much it has spread to other parts of your body. These tests include MRI scan, PET scan, CT scan, Ultrasound, X-ray and bone scan.

● Biopsy: A small tissue from the nearby area that may be cancerous is taken. A biopsy is also performed to confirm cancer if a person might not be treated with surgery.

Ways to Prevent Kidney Cancer

The exact cause of kidney cancer is still not known. It can be genetically transferred in some cases where it becomes impossible to prevent it. But still, there are various ways of stopping this disease from growing and spreading. The most common ways are discussed below:

● High blood pressure and Obesity: Being overweight can increase the risk of getting diagnosed with kidney cancer. A person should maintain a healthy BMI (Body Mass Index) by performing physical activities and eating a balanced diet.

● Smoking: This activity results in kidney cancer. It's better to quit smoking as it may lead to the detection of other cancers also.

● Getting exposed to harmful substances: Coming in direct contact with some chemicals at work can increase the chances of getting diagnosed with renal cell cancer. Avoid using harmful chemicals in your workplace and start using protection to avoid contact with such toxins.

Treatment methods for Kidney Cancer

The doctor prescribes the treatment depending on the size of the tumor and the stage of the cancer. Kidney cancer cannot be cured completely when it has spread to other parts. It is possible to slow the multiplication process and treat the symptoms using different treatments. The treatment options are mentioned below:

● Surgery: It is possible to remove the part of the kidney containing cancer cells. The entire kidney can also be removed in cases where the cancer cells have not spread to the other kidney. As it is possible to live a normal life with one kidney, it can filter the blood.

● Targeted therapies: The doctor prescribes targeted therapies in cases when the cancer has reached an advanced stage. The dosage of the medicine is decided based on medical history, health condition, and age of the patient. These medicines prevent the multiplication of cancer cells. Sunicine TM , Sorafe'nat and Avastin TM injections are some of the commonly prescribed anticancer drugs used in treating kidney cancer. These drugs are available on Magicine Pharma at reasonable prices with great discounts.

● Radiotherapy: This treatment is prescribed to people diagnosed with advanced kidney cancer. In this stage of cancer, the cancerous cells have spread to other parts of the body. Radiation is used to kill the cancerous cells in a particular area. Radiotherapy cannot cure kidney cancer completely but it can slow down the growth of cancer and prevent it from spreading. It also helps to control the symptoms. Radiotherapy is usually performed for a few minutes every day, over a few weeks.

FAQ's

1. What is the survival rate of a person diagnosed with kidney cancer?

According to the American Cancer Society, The five-year relative survival rate for kidney cancer for stage 1 is 93%, 74% for stage 2, 17% for stage 3, and 14% for stage 4.

2. What are the visible symptoms of kidney cancer?

Blood in urine, fever, weight loss without any known cause, pain in the abdomen and lower back, and swelling in the legs are some of the commonly observed symptoms of kidney cancer.

3. Is it possible to cure kidney cancer completely?

There are chances of treating kidney cancer completely in patients diagnosed in the early stages.

4. What is the final stage of kidney cancer?

Stage 4 is the last stage of kidney cancer. The cancerous cells have spread to nearby organs and the tumor size has also doubled up.

5. How fast do kidney cancer cells grow?

The early stages of kidney cancer tend to show slow growth whereas in advanced stages, the cancer cells multiply quite fast.

References

https://www.kidney.org/kidney-topics/kidney-cancer

https://www.wcrf.org/preventing-cancer/cancer-statistics/kidney-cancer-statistics/

https://www.cancer.org/cancer/types/kidney-cancer/causes-risks-prevention/risk-factors.html

https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/kidney-cancer/risks-causes

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6299342/pdf/JCO.2018.79.1905.pdf

https://www.cancer.org/cancer/types/kidney-cancer/detection-diagnosis-staging/survival-rates.html

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