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What are the symptoms of kidney cancer?
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What are the symptoms of kidney cancer?
Kidney cancer is a serious condition in which malignant cells grow in the kidney tissue. The kidneys are two bean-shaped organs located on either side of the spine, just below the ribs. They are essential for filtering waste products from the blood and producing urine.
Also read: How often should you urinate per day?
What is kidney cancer?
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Kidney cancer occurs when cells in a kidney multiply uncontrollably and form a malignant tumor. The most common type of kidney cancer in adults is renal cell carcinoma (RCC). There are several types of RCC, including clear cell, papillary, and chromophobe. Less common types of kidney cancer include transitional cell carcinoma and renal sarcoma.
Also read: What does your urine say about your health?
Symptoms of kidney cancer
Symptoms of kidney cancer can be subtle and often go unnoticed in the early stages. The most common symptoms include:
- Blood in the urine (hematuria): This is often the first sign and may be intermittent.
- Pain in the side or lower back: This may be dull and persistent.
- A palpable mass in the abdomen: This is usually a later symptom.
- Unexplained weight loss
- Fatigue
- Fever not caused by an infection
- High blood pressure: Sometimes caused by hormonal changes caused by the tumor.
Also read: Should you be concerned about blood in urine (hematuria)?
Diagnosis of kidney cancer
The diagnosis of kidney cancer involves several tests to determine the presence and size of the tumor:
- Urine test: To check for blood or abnormal cells.
- Blood tests: To evaluate kidney function and general health.
- Ultrasound: A first imaging technique to detect abnormalities in the kidneys.
- CT scan and MRI: Detailed images to assess the size, location and spread of the tumor.
- Biopsy: In some cases, a tissue sample is taken to examine the cancer cells microscopically (1).
Kidney cancer treatment
Treatment strategies for kidney cancer depend on the stage of the disease and the patient’s overall health. Common treatments include:
- Surgery: During surgery, the entire kidney can be removed, along with surrounding fatty tissue and sometimes the adrenal gland. This is called radical nephrectomy. In partial nephrectomy, only the tumor is removed, and a small portion of surrounding healthy tissue. This is mainly done for smaller tumors.
- Targeted therapy: Medicines that specifically target cancer cells and cause minimal damage to normal cells. These therapies focus on specific molecular targets within the cancer cells.
- Immunotherapy: Treatments that stimulate the patient’s immune system to attack the cancer.
- Radiation therapy: Use of high-energy radiation to kill cancer cells. This is rarely used as a primary treatment for kidney cancer, but may be useful in palliative care to relieve symptoms.
- Systemic therapies: Including chemotherapy, although kidney cancer is often resistant to traditional chemotherapy.
Also read: Nephrotic syndrome: swollen feet and ankles due to too much protein in the urine
Prognosis and survival rate for kidney cancer
The prognosis of kidney cancer varies greatly depending on the stage at diagnosis and the patient’s overall health. Early detection significantly improves survival.
- If kidney cancer is detected early, when the tumor is still confined to the kidney, the five-year survival rate is high, between 80 and 95 percent.
- If the cancer has spread to surrounding tissues or lymph nodes, but has not yet spread further, the five-year survival rate decreases but remains reasonably high. However, precise figures for this group are less clearly documented.
- For kidney cancer with metastases to other parts of the body, survival rates are significantly lower. In Belgium, the average five-year survival rate for these patients is about 30 percent. However, recent treatments have improved life expectancy, even though a cure is often not yet possible.
On average, 57 out of 100 people with kidney cancer are still alive 10 years after diagnosis. This percentage takes into account all stages and types of kidney cancer together, meaning it includes both early and advanced cases.
Kidney cancer in children
Kidney cancer in children is rare, but when it does occur, Wilms’ tumor (also known as nephroblastoma) is the most common type. This malignant tumor primarily affects young children under the age of five. Symptoms of a kidney tumor in children may include a palpable mass in the abdomen, blood in the urine, abdominal pain, fever, and fatigue. Kidney tumors in children are often diagnosed using imaging techniques such as MRI to determine the specific type and size of the tumor. Treatment usually involves a combination of surgery, chemotherapy, and sometimes radiation therapy, depending on the stage and type of tumor.
Sources:
https://www.umcutrecht.nl
https://www.mmc.nl
https://www.allesoverkanker.be
https://www.uzgent.be
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