If a person is diagnosed with kidney cancer or worried about it, he/she is likely to have a lot of questions. So learning about what is kidney cancer would be a great starting point.
Cancer is an ailment that occurs when cells mutate and grow out of control in our body. To help you with a better understanding of what happens when we have cancer, let’s look at how our body works normally. Our body comprises building blocks of elements called cells. If a person is diagnosed with cancer, his/her body makes cells that grow abnormally to form a lump/mass of tissue called a tumour. This tumour grows and later spreads to other tissues and organs of the body.
What is kidney cancer?
In kidney cancer, the renal cells become cancerous (i.e., malignant) and grow uncontrollably, causing tumours to spread to other tissues and organs. This leads to a condition known as metastasis. The kidneys are two bean-shaped organs in the abdomen on either side of the spine above the waist. Every person has two kidneys which are reddish-brown, about the size of our fist. The kidney’s primary function is filtering blood, removing impurities like extra minerals, salts, etc., and producing hormones that help control blood pressure and tell the body to produce more red blood cells. Kidney cancer appears first in the lining of tiny tubules present in the kidney; such type of cancer gets known as Renal Cell Carcinoma (RCC). These cancer cells proliferate in our bodies when something triggers a change in them and goes out of control.
Let’s understand the impact of kidney cancer cells in our body to avoid further worsening of this organ and feel more in control of our life and health through early diagnosis and treatment.
Symptoms of kidney cancer
If you’re wondering “what are the symptoms of kidney cancer,” the answer is kidney cancer often has no symptoms in the early stages. The symptoms usually appear in advanced cancer stages when viewed by an imaging test, such as ultrasound, MRI or magnetic resonance imaging, or computed tomography (CT). The signs and symptoms are:
- Haematuria (blood in your pee)
- A lump in the kidney
- Swelling in our ankle or leg
- Loss of appetite
- Weight loss without diet for no reason
- Shortness of breath
- A pain in your sides
- Bone pain
- High blood pressure
- Anaemia (low red blood cell count)
- Fever that is not due to infection and does not go away
How would one know if they have kidney cancer?
There are no specific routine laboratory tests for kidney cancer diagnosis. The doctor will physically check your abdomen for lumps or tissue mass. The doctor can see our medical history, family history and types of treatment one had undergone in the past. Building upon these findings, the doctor will request us to go for one or more tests and may send us to a urologist if he/she suspects there is something wrong with our kidneys. Here are some tests healthcare providers may ask you to take –
- Complete blood count to check how well your kidneys are working and detect the presence of any blood-related disease
- Bone scan to see if the ailment is present in your bones and chest X-ray to look for the spread of cancer cells in the lungs
- CT scan or PET scan for complete body examination
- Complete metabolic panel (CMP)
- Magnetic resonance imaging uses strong magnetic and radio waves to detect soft tissues in the body
- Urine analysis to check for blood or any infection in the urine sample
- Kidney function test
- Kidney Tissue Biopsy to look for any sort of malignancy
- Abdomen ultrasound to check if the tumour is solid or fluid-filled by creating pictures of the kidney using sound waves
- Renal arteriogram to evaluate blood supply in the tumour mass
Stages of kidney cancer
Now that you know what are the symptoms of kidney cancer, let’s look at the stages of the ailment.
Studying the fundamental insights of different stages of kidney cancer and its symptoms can help diagnose the early stages of this disease. There are four stages of kidney cancer, and the higher the stage, the more advanced the cancer will be.
- Stage I: If the tumour size is 7cm, is only present in the kidney, and has not spread to the lymph nodes or other tissues
- Stage II: If the tumour size is larger than 7 cm and this tumour or tissue mass is present only in the kidney and has not spread to the lymph nodes
- Stage III: If the tumour has spread to major blood vessels in the body like the renal vein, inferior vena cava, fatty tissue and lymph nodes around the kidney but not the ipsilateral adrenal gland and Gerota’s fascia
- Stage IV: If the tumour has spread further than the fatty layer of tissue around the kidney and nearby lymph nodes and spreads to other organs, like the bowel, pancreas, or lungs and beyond Gerota's fascia and ipsilateral adrenal gland
How is kidney cancer treated?
The treatment pathway for kidney cancer aims to have a diagnosis and to know the stage of kidney cancer. Different treatment options are available that help us with clear and concise information about these procedures, depending on the size and location of the tumour. Our age and general health also influence our options for treatment. Everyone’s kidney cancer treatment journey will differ based on the spread of the infection. The doctor may refer us to a specialist for treatment advice, including a urologist, a medical or radiation oncologist, or a surgeon. It is important to take a second opinion from your doctor before starting the treatment of kidney cancer. Discuss the proper treatment plan and its outcome before starting the therapy.
There are several standard treatment options for kidney cancer. The most common method and first-line treatment is surgery in which the entire tumour gets removed, and the doctor may suggest further treatment to eliminate any remaining cancer cells present in the neighbouring cells.
The main type of surgery for kidney cancer depends on how advanced the cancer is. Options for surgery are:
- Radical nephrectomy in which the kidney, adrenal gland, surrounding tissue and lymph nodes get removed; it is the most common type of surgery for kidney cancer done through a small incision with the help of a laparoscope.
- Simple nephrectomy in which the surgery gets done to remove only the kidney gets removed.
- Partial nephrectomy in which the kidney, along with some tissue around it, gets removed. This procedure is also used to remove smaller size tumours.
If surgery is not an option, the doctor may suggest the following methods to help destroy the kidney tumour.
- Cryotherapy involves extreme cold to kill the tumour.
- In radiofrequency ablation, a high-energy radio wave kills the tumour.
- Arterial embolisation involves inserting material, like a special gelatin sponge, through a catheter into an artery that clogs/blocks the blood flow to the tumour or primary renal blood vessel.
Other techniques used are listed below.
- Biologic therapy for kidney cancer: This therapy utilises our immune system to fight kidney cancer by restoring our body's natural defence mechanism and using immunotherapies like interferon alpha or interleukin-2.
- Targeted Therapy: This treatment utilises drugs and other substances to target cancer cells by using targeted therapy with anti-angiogenic agents that block blood vessels and shrink them to enter the tumour. It gets used after surgical procedures.
- Radiation Therapy: This type of treatment involves using high-energy X-rays (i.e., external radiation) to kill cancer cells in patients who do not undergo surgery.
- Chemotherapy: This mode of therapy uses drugs to eliminate cancer cells or prevent them from multiplying, but it is not effective for kidney cancer except for a particular type of spindle cells.
Can kidney cancer be prevented?
Learning about our kidneys is a way to regain control of our life and health. Doctors are researching the exact cause of symptoms of kidney cancer. But we can reduce the risk of this ailment by considering certain factors linked to kidney cancer, such as:
- Cigarette smoking is a significant cause of concern as a large percentage of cases occur due to this reason.
- Maintaining a healthy weight by exercising and following a diet high in fruits and vegetables may also reduce our chance of getting this ailment.
- We can reduce our risk of kidney disease by managing our blood pressure.
- Avoiding exposure to harmful chemicals (such as trichloroethylene) at work may reduce our risk for renal cell cancer.
- Drinking alcohol is also one of the major factors for kidney disease, as several cases occur due to this reason.
- Kidney cancer is the most treatable ailment when detected in its early stages, so going for an early prognosis is wise.
Conclusion
Like any illness, cancer can occur without warning. Whether one is recently diagnosed, undergoing or completed treatment for kidney cancer, or is a carer, investing in a health insurance policy could provide us with a safety net. Look for policies that cover critical illness or invest in it as an add-on cover. ICICI Lombard provides us with individual and family health insurance policies with upgraded new add-ons. When our demands and lifestyle are constantly changing, why should our health insurance policy remain the same? Review your needs and upgrade your health insurance policy to meet modern treatment needs.
Disclaimer: The information provided in this blog is for educational and informational purposes only. It is not intended as a substitute for professional advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Please consult your general physician or another certified medical professional for any questions regarding a medical condition. Relying on any information provided in this blog is solely at your own risk, and ICICI Lombard is not responsible for any effects or consequences resulting from the use of the information shared.
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