Kidney cancer : Risk Factors And Treatment

Kidneys, bean shaped organs, are located right behind the abdominal organs, on the side of the spine. They are typically the size of fists. When a patient is diagnosed with kidney cancer, it essentially indicates the malignancy of kidney cells. These cells outnumber the healthy cells, consequently forming a tumor. Doctors are yet to identify a convincing cause of Kidney Cancer. However, there are certain factors that potentially surge the risk of this cancer. Let’s dig deeper into it!

Table of Contents

1. Risk Factors: Who is more likely to get kidney cancer?
2. Staging of kidney cancer
3. Early Detection and Diagnosis 
4. Treatment options for kidney cancer 

Take Away

1. Risk Factors: Who Is More Likely To Get Kidney Cancer?

“How kidney cancer is caused, what causes kidney cancer in adults” are the most commonly asked questions.  As already mentioned, till date it is difficult to state Kidney Cancer causes with a concrete precision. However, there are certain factors that evidently escalate the risk. One of the kidney cancer causes, is old age. Kidney Cancer has been often witnessed in people above the age of 40 years. Some of the predominant risk factors are

• Smoking- if you are an active smoker, your chances of developing this cancer are more than a non or passive smoker. This unhealthy habit of yours might be a kidney cancer cause!
• Gender- males are at a greater risk of kidney cancer over females. There may be various factors responsible for it such as their varied lifestyle, smoking habits, eating habits, etc.
• Obesity- overweight causes significant hormonal changes which again increases the risk of kidney cancer.
• Certain pain medications- if you are relying too much on pain medications in addition to the prescription drugs, you are at a greater risk of making it a cause of kidney cancer disease.
• Kidney diseases or dialysis- if you are suffering from some advanced kidney diseases or you are undergoing dialysis for a long period, it is a danger as it can be a cause of kidney cancer disease.
• Family history- if there is a family history of kidney cancer, the risk is even higher.
• High blood pressure- it has been seen that kidney cancer often develops in people with a high BP. Therefore, it might become the cause of kidney cancer disease.
• Exposure to certain chemicals like asbestos, benzene, certain herbicides, etc. may become a cause of kidney cancer disease.

Having the above mentioned health complications, doesn’t necessarily mean that you are going to develop kidney cancer altogether. These are just the commonly seen causes of kidney cancer disease. Therefore, be vigilant if your body sends certain indications but don’t panic.

2. Staging of Kidney Cancer

Primarily there are four stages of kidney cancer, the highest being the most advanced. It is recommended to understand the kidney cancer causes and its various stages so that you are well prepared for it. Following are the stages of kidney cancer-

STAGE 1 :-
At this stage, the tumor is merely 7 centimeter long. It is most certainly located in the kidney itself.

STAGE 2 :-
This stage has only minor differences compared to the first stage. The tumor is now longer than 7 centimeter but hasn’t yet spread to other organs.

STAGE 3 :-
The patient would witness advancement of the tumor in any of the following ways-

• The tumor is in at least one lymph node, in addition to the kidney.
• A tumor in the kidney’s main blood vessel along with a tumor in the nearby lymph mode.
• Tumor in the fatty tissue surrounding the kidney and a nearby lymph node.
• Tumor extends to perinephric tissues or major veins, but not in ipsilateral adrenal glands. It doesn’t go beyond Gerota’s fascia (surrounding connective tissue) at this stage. 

STAGE 4 :-
This is the most serious and advanced stage that demands immediate medical attention. By this stage, the cancer spreads beyond fatty layers of tissues around the kidney and, most likely, in nearby lymph nodes.

• It might as well have spread to other organs, like pancreas, bowel or even lungs.
• It is also possible that this tumor has gone beyond Gerota’s fascia, inclusive of ipsilateral adrenal gland.

3.  Early Detection and Diagnosis :-

Symptoms of kidney cancer are normally not prominent in the early stages. As it grows, symptoms may become evident. Following symptoms are mostly seen in kidney cancer patients-

• Blood in urine
• Loss of appetite
• Extreme fatigue
• Lump in side or abdomen
• Constant pain in the side
• Unreasoned weight loss
• Anemia
• Swollen ankles or legs

If your cancer has expanded to other body organs, the following symptoms are most likely to be seen-

• Pain in bones
• Coughing of blood
• Shortness of breath

For an assured diagnosis, you might be advised to undertake the following tests-

• Urine test to check blood in your urine or other symptoms.
• Blood tests to test the functioning of your kidneys.
• Intravenous pyelogram (IVP), is an X ray of your kidneys. The doctor would inject a dye that goes to the urinary tract and displays the tumor, if any.
• Ultrasound that uses waves to picturise the kidneys. It helps to detect if the tumor is fluid-filled or is solid.
• CT scan, using X ray and computer to view detailed images of your kidneys. 
• Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) that uses magnets and radio waves for viewing minute details of the soft tissues. 
• Renal arteriogram to analyse the blood supply to your tumor. Generally, it is adopted to detect small tumors.

At times, a biopsy is recommended for corroboration. Once you are diagnosed with kidney cancer, you might be required to undergo other tests to ensure it hasn’t spread to other organs like lungs or bones. 

4. Treatment Options For Kidney Cancer :-

It’s advisable to know and understand the treatment alternatives so that you are well informed before taking the decision.

Depending on the stage of your cancer, the following surgeries may be recommended-

• Radical Nephrectomy- it attempts to remove the entire kidney, adrenal glands, lymph nodes and the infected tissues. 
• Partial Nephrectomy- it strives to remove cancer from the kidney and tissue around. It is more advantageous for patients with small tumors or where radical nephrectomy is considered to be ineffective. This is best done using a surgical robot.

Certain non-surgical treatments are also available to cure kidney cancer effectively. It includes-

• Cryoablation essentially treats cancer by freezing the cancerous cells. A needle, carrying cold gas, is inserted into the kidneys using image guidance or ultrasound. 
• Radiofrequency ablation, unlike cryoablation, uses an electrical current to kill the cancer cells.

Possibly, cancer cells can come back post treatment or might not be curable if it spreads to the other body parts. In such a condition, the following treatments would help managing it-

• Targeted Therapy- it focuses on specific abnormalities of the cancer cells. By treating these abnormalities, cancer cells would die. It is for your doctor to decide if it will be an effective treatment for you or not.
• Immunotherapy- this significantly fights cancer by making your immune system efficient enough to fight cancerous cells.
• Radiation Therapy- uses energy beams to kill cancer cells. It is most effective when it has been spread to other body parts, such as the brain and bones.

At Dr. Vikram’s Clinic, You will get the best treatment options as well as recommendations to deal with kidney cancer causes.

Take away

It is advisable to never ignore the signals that your body sends to you. Routinely, following the symptoms, analysing the kidney cancer causes and undergoing regular medical examination, essentially helps in preventing any disease from enlarging. If the stage of your disease demands a surgery, it will be pertinent to understand the procedure, consult a diligent specialist and follow post operative care.