The most fatal disease of all time, cancer, is now common among netizens. Due to a changed lifestyle and insufficient nutrients, the consumption of alcohol and other cancer-aggravating elements has increased the risk of this disease. In the past few years, kidney/renal cancer has risen significantly. According to studies, it is evident that over 0.9 percent of Indians have kidney cancer, among which the mortality rate is 0.6 per cent. These numbers have increased to a noticeable extent over the past five years, as the studies suggest.
Kidney Cancer arises when kidney cells mutate and develop uncontrollable growth. People who have kidney cancer might go through flank pain, high blood pressure, blood in pee and other associated signs and symptoms. The management of renal cancer comprises surgery, chemotherapy and radiation therapy. A universal rule for successful cancer treatment is early detection.
It is important to acknowledge the disease, its signs and symptoms, its causes and management. So before moving ahead, let us see what kidney cancer is and how it is developed.
Kidney cancer what is it?
Studies say renal cancer is the abnormal and unwanted growth of renal cells and tissues. With time Kidney Cancer develops in which these cells accumulate and form a tumour-like mass. When some stimuli trigger the normal activity of kidney cells, the cells begin to divide uncontrollably, and that’s how the condition of cancer develops. The spread of cancer depends upon the type of cancer tumour, either malignant or benign. The malignant tumour or cancer can spread to other tissues and vital organs. This spread of cancer is called metastasis.
Who does Kidney cancer mainly affect?
Based on surveys, it was seen that kidney cancer is common among the old age group of above 50, more precisely in the age of 65 to 75. In addition, the ratio of prominence in males is twice more than that of females. The occurrence of kidney cancer is relatively rare among children.
What are the various forms of renal cancer?
There are a variety of kidney cancer human suffer from, which include the following
- Renal cell carcinoma (RCC): renal cell carcinoma is the most common type of kidney cancer, showing its incidence mainly in adults. Renal cell carcinoma can affect a single or maybe both kidneys.
- Transitional cell cancer: this type of kidney cancer accounts for a six or seven per cent incidence rate. It mainly affects the renal pelvis and parts like the ureter and bladder.
- Renal sarcoma: The rarest form of renal cancer is renal sarcoma, with a rate of incidence of one per cent. They mainly affect the connective tissues of the kidney.
Wilms tumour: it is the common form of kidney cancer that develops in children only, with a five per cent incidence rate.
SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF KIDNEY CANCER
Studies have revealed that there aren’t any noticeable signs and symptoms of kidney cancer that can be seen in the early stage, but with time as the tumour develops, some symptoms start to become noticeable. Due to this, renal cancer is not diagnosed in its early stages and can only be diagnosed later on.
The following symptoms can indicate renal/kidney cancer
- Blood in the pee, aka hematuria
- Any lump or mass in the kidney area.
- Flank pain ( pain on both sides of the stomach)
- weariness
- A general sense of not feeling energetic or well.
- Loss of hunger
- Weight loss
- Low-grade fever.
- Pain in bones
- Increased blood pressure.
- Anaemia
- High calcium(hypercalcemia)
What are the causes of kidney cancer?
There’s no particular known cause of kidney cancer, but there are some specific elements that can increase the risk of getting kidney cancer.
- Smoking: individuals who smoke daily or for a long duration are at a higher risk of developing renal cancer.
- Obesity: overweight individuals are at higher risk of kidney cancer.
- Hypertension: the condition of high blood pressure is also a considerable risk factor for developing kidney cancer, as high blood pressure and kidney cancer are interlinked.
- Hereditary: people with a history of kidney cancer runs in the family are at higher risk.
- Radiation: radiation therapy is also a prominent reason for developing kidney cancer in females who have been treated with reproductive organ cancer earlier.
- Genetic abnormality: gene mutations due to some stimuli can also cause renal cancer.
- Dialysis patient: the patient who is on dialysis for a longer period is at more risk.
- Diagnosis
Some certain tests and techniques are performed to diagnose renal cancer.
1 CT Scan
2MRI ( Magnetic Resonance Imaging)
3 Ultrasound
4 Renal Mass Biopsy: In a renal mass biopsy, a small tissue is taken from the organ, and it is studied under the microscope by specialists.
Stages of kidney cancer
Most cancers are distinguished by stages, which are then managed by different treatment plans.
The stages of cancer are differentiated based on
- The size and site of the tumour.
- Up to what extent the lymph nodes are affected?
- The rate at which cancer spreads.
The cancer specialists will determine the stage of kidney cancer by seeing the various tests that have been performed, like MRI, CT Scan, and Ultrasound.
Stage I: the renal tumour is considered in stage I when the tumour is 7 cm or smaller and is limited to the kidney, and the disease hasn’t spread in lymph nodes.
Stage II: when the tumour is larger than 7 cm but still limited to the kidney and hasn’t reached the lymph nodes.
Stage III: when the tumour has incorporated the major blood vessels and lymph nodes near your kidney
Stage IV: when the tumour is no longer restricted to the kidney and has spread outside it, including the adrenal gland or to distant lymph nodes or other vital organs.
How is renal cancer managed?
The management of renal cancer mainly depends on the stage and grade of the tumour, the age of an individual and general overall health. The treatment may include surgery, radiation therapy, drug therapy, immunotherapy, and rarely chemotherapy.
Surgery
Surgical removal of tumours is performed on the choice of the patient’s will and stages of renal cancer.
There are several types of surgical options.
- Partial nephrectomy- removing the part of the kidney that is affected by the tumour.
- Radical nephrectomy- removing the entire kidney and removal of nearby tissues and lymph nodes.
Ablation
This type of treatment choice is for patients who do not opt for surgical removal of tumours. Ablations comprise heat and cold treatment, which can destroy cancerous cells. This type of treatment involves two forms of beneficial techniques.
- Cryoablation: with minimal insertion of a needle into your kidney tumour, the surgeon will incorporate the cold gas to freeze and destroy the tumour.
- Radiofrequency ablation: inserting a needle into the tumour cell, an electric current is passed to destroy the cancer cells.
Targeted drug therapy
Certain drugs are advised to the patient, which can block the growth or growth factors of cancer cells.
Immunotherapy
Medications are given to patients to enhance the immune system to destroy and to make the immune system able to fight against cancer cells.
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy does not account for kidney cancer, but it can be effective in some cases.
PREVENTION
The most commonly asked question about cancer disease is if it can be prevented. Since the exact cause of renal cancer is still not found, resisting the risk factors may help prevent cancer. Risk factors such as smoking, obesity, hypertension, and diabetes should be avoided.
Kidney cancer be cured completely?
As we said earlier, the universal rule for successful cancer treatment is early detection most of the time. Then kidney cancer is considered to be curable, but if cancer has spread to lymph nodes and other organs, the percentage of surety now totally depends on the patient’s overall health and other factors.
