Most often we cannot truthfully say what the real causes of kidney cancer are. What is certain is that the risk factors involved are more likely linked to this disease. Different kinds of cancer have different risk factors involve. Smoking which is a risk factor for some cancers can be controlled however, if the risk factor is family history that can never be changed. The truth is, even if you have risk factors, it does not necessarily mean that you will get the disease. On the other hand, people without any manifestation of risk factors get the disease as well. Cancer of the kidney or any kind of cancer is very unpredictable; we do not know when it will happen and how people get it.
Kidney Cancer starts when the kidney cells become abnormal and cancerous, then grows quickly and out of control. It produces tumor or several number of tumors but then doctors are not yet sure what are real cause of the cancer. Only the risk factors are recognized. Cancerous cells of the kidney usually begin at the lining of the small tubes found in the kidneys. At this stage, there are already few symptoms but most often ignored. Even if there is absence of most symptoms at the early stage of the cancer, most often the cancer is already diagnosed before it even spreads to the other organs of the body.
Like any other disease, a single or even two symptoms is not an indication that the person has cancer of the kidney. However, this must not be ignored and needs to be checked out as soon as possible. If more symptoms are experienced especially if it occurred overtime, you need to see a doctor immediately. The most common kidney cancer symptoms are the presence of blood in the urine which is manifested in almost 50% of the patients with cancer, rapid weight loss, fever, pain or lump in the abdomen or on the lower side and swelling in the kidney area. Along with some of the common symptoms, other symptoms includes loss of appetite, swelling of the legs and ankles, general feeling of poor health and fatigue. Cancer of the kidney may spread while being treated or not, in these cases, another set of symptoms will be felt. This will now include coughing up blood, shortness of breath and pain in the bone. Once the patient experience any of these symptoms, it is necessary that he tells them to his doctor immediately, additional or change in medication may be considered by the doctor.
The patient together with the doctor will discuss the treatment that is appropriate for the patient. Different factors are considered such as the general health of the patient, the type of cancer of the kidney and the patient’s choice of treatment. Surgery is often the first option for most cancer of the kidney patients. This will involve the removal of the affected kidney (nephrectomy). Radical nephrectomy is the procedure that entails the removal of the kidney, a part of the healthy tissue and its closest lymph nodes. Other times, the adrenal gland is also removed if it is already affected or tumor has already grown in that part. Other surgical procedure is the removal of the tumor from the kidney (Nephron-sparing surgery) or partial nephrectomy. In this procedure, the affected part of the kidney is removed as well as a very little portion of the healthy tissue that surrounds the kidney. However, there is a risk involve when surgery is the option for treating cancer of the kidney. The patient faces the risk of bleeding and infection.
However, there are times that surgery is not possible or too risky for a patient, this time other options should be considered. Arterial embolization or simply blocking of the flow of the blood going to the tumor will deprive the tumor oxygen and other nutrients. In this procedure a special material is injected in the main blood vessel that leads to the kidney.
Another procedure called cryoablation or freezing of the cancer cells. During this treatment, a special needle with gas that will cool down or freeze the cancer cells is injected to the patient. This will lead to the kidney with the guidance of x-ray. This procedure is often given to patients that have small kidney tumors that can easily be reached by the needle. Additionally, this is also the best option for patients where other surgical procedures are impossible.
Likewise, there are treatments for advance and recurrent cancer of the kidney that has already spread to some parts of the body. On situations like this, various treatments include a surgical procedure that will remove as much of the tumor in the kidney as possible. Similarly, even if surgery won’t get rid all of the cancer, it is helpful to remove as much portion of the kidney with cancer. Alternatively, medications will also help the immune system in fighting against the cancer or biological therapy. The drugs have side effects when taken by the patient such as chills, nausea, fever, loss of appetite and vomiting.
Target therapy is also considered at this stage wherein the medications block the abnormal signals that are responsible for the increase or growth of the cancer. This also involves some side effects such as diarrhea, fatigue and severe rash.
Chemotherapy is considered to advance stage of cancer of the kidney which uses chemicals in killing the cancer cells. Additionally, cancer that spreads to the other parts of the body sometimes can now be treated. This will depend entirely on the number of the tumors, their location and the overall health of the patient. This will include radiation for the cancer of the kidney that already affected the bones or surgery for brain metastasis.
Sometimes, patients participate in the clinical trial so that they can avail of the latest treatment and procedure for the cancer. This does not necessarily mean that it will guarantee them a 100% kidney cancer cure.
Moreover, there are no alternative medicines that have proven to be successful in treating the cancer. But then, they may be helpful in coping with the signs and symptoms related to the disease.
Once the cancer is diagnosed at an early stage before it spreads outside the kidney, 80% to 90% can be cured. However, once the cancer reaches the areas outside the kidney, treatment will be difficult. This will depend though on the patient’s age and the severity of the cancer. About 50% to 80% at this stage can be cured. For the advance stage of cancer of the kidney, treatment is completely difficult. One in every six or seven patients can be cured at this stage and when we say “cured”, it means that they survive after five years of the first of diagnosis.