KIDNEY CANCER
How does Kidney Cancer affect the rest of the Body?
As kidney cancer grows, it may invade organs near the kidney, such as the liver, colon, or pancreas. Kidney cancer cells may also break away from the original tumor and spread (metastasize) to other parts of the body. When kidney cancer spreads, cancer cells may appear in the lymph nodes. For this reason, lymph nodes near the kidney may be removed during surgery. If the pathologist finds cancer cells in the lymph nodes, it may mean that the disease has spread to other parts of the body. Kidney cancer may spread and form new tumors, most often in the bones or lungs. The new tumors have the same kind of abnormal cells and the same name as the original (primary) tumor in the kidney. For example, if kidney cancer spreads to the lungs, the cancer cells in the lungs are kidney cancer cells. The disease is metastatic kidney cancer; it is not lung cancer.
What are the Symptoms of Kidney Cancer?
In its early stages, kidney cancer usually causes no obvious signs or troublesome symptoms. However, as a kidney tumor grows, symptoms may occur.
These may include:
- Blood in the urine. Blood may be present one day and not the next.
- A lump or mass in the kidney area
- Fatigue
- Loss of appetite
- Weight loss
- Recurrent fevers
- A pain in the side that doesn't go away
- A general feeling of poor health
- High blood pressure or a lower than normal number of red cells in the blood (anemia)
How is Kidney Cancer Diagnosed?
To find the cause of symptoms, the doctor asks about the patient's medical history and does a physical exam. In addition to checking for general signs of health, the doctor may perform blood and urine tests. The doctor may also carefully feel the abdomen for lumps or irregular masses.
The doctor usually orders tests that produce pictures of the
kidneys and nearby organs. These pictures can often show changes
in the kidney and surrounding tissue. For example, an IVP (intravenous
pyelogram) is a series of x-rays of the kidneys, ureters, and
bladder after the injection of a dye. The dye may be placed
in the body through a needle or a narrow tube called a catheter.
The pictures produced can show changes in the shape of these
organs and nearby lymph nodes.
What is the Treatment for Kidney Cancer?
Treatment for kidney cancer depends on the stage of the disease, the patient's general health and age, and other factors. The doctor develops a treatment plan to fit each patient's needs.
People with kidney cancer are often treated by a team of specialists, which may include a urologist, an oncologist, and a radiation oncologist. Kidney cancer is usually treated with surgery, radiation therapy, biological therapy, chemotherapy, or hormone therapy. Sometimes a special treatment called arterial embolization is used. The doctors may decide to use one treatment method or a combination of methods.
Some people take part in a clinical trial (research study) using new treatment methods. Such studies are designed to improve cancer treatment.
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