Kidney Cancer

What is Kidney Cancer?

Kidney cancer is also known by another medical term as Renal cell carcinoma (RCC). The proximal convoluted tubule which is a part of the Kidney’s small tubes is primarily the origin of Kidney Cancer. Furthermore, 90-95% of cases of cancer patients have Kidney cancer in terms of its commonness. Interestingly, Kidney cancer also commonly affects males more than females. Also, Kidney cancer likely affects people who are above 60 years of age. The early signs of Kidney cancer may be subtle or undetectable in nature and its symptoms are good at hiding. 

Kidney cancer occurs when the kidney cells start to develop changes i.e. DNA mutations, and changes in the way our DNA instructs our Kidneys to function. These mutated DNA cells present in the Kidney start to proliferate and divide quickly resulting in the accumulation of abnormal cells. Furthermore, it leads to the formation of tumors and may start to extend beyond the kidney. Also, in some cases, those cells break off from the Kidney and reach other parts of our bodies as well.

How to know if you are showing signs and symptoms of Kidney Cancer?

The symptoms of Kidney cancers are usually hard to detect in the initial stages. It is also said that the person with Kidney problems exhibits a classic triad of symptoms which includes:

1. Urine in blood
2. The region between the hips and ribs experiences pain
3. The abdominal area looks unusually bloated

Additionally, these classic triad symptoms only show in 10 to 15% of Kidney cancer patients. 

Other symptoms of Kidney cancer include:

• Haematuria
• Malaise 
• Loss of appetite
• Weight loss
• Anemia
• Loin pain
• Erythrocytosis
• Increased erythropoietin secretion
• Depression of erythropoietin
• Varicocele
• Hypertension
• Secretion of renin by the tumor
• Hypercalcemia
• Sleep problem
• Night sweating
• Frequent episodes of fever
• Chronic fatigue

What are the causes of Kidney Cancer?

Kidney cancer primarily occurs when the kidney cells start to develop changes i.e. DNA mutations, and changes in the way our DNA instructs our Kidneys to function. However, here is a list of medical conditions that can cause someone to under risk of Kidney Cancer as follows:

• Elevated blood pressure or hypertension- Kidney cancer risk is elevated by high blood pressure significantly
• Kidney failure treatment- A higher risk of kidney cancer also exists in people who use long-term dialysis to treat chronic renal failure.
• Gradual aging of an individual- As you become older, your chance of kidney cancer rises.
• Smoking- Smokers are more likely to have Kidney cancer than non-smokers. The risk steeps down if you stop smoking.
• Certain inherited disorders- People with certain genetic syndromes, such as von Hippel-Lindau disease, Birt-Hogg-Dube syndrome, tuberous sclerosis complex, hereditary papillary renal cell carcinoma, or familial renal cancer, may have a higher risk of developing kidney cancer.
• Obesity or overweight- Those who are a healthy weight and maintain a good healthy diet are less likely to develop kidney cancer than those who are obese or fall into poor eating habits.
• Kidney cancer in the family history-  If any members of your present family have suffered from kidney cancer, your risk increases.

Can you get a total cure for Kidney Cancer?

Kidney cancer or Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is a type of cancer that affects the kidney. The cure of Kidney cancer depends upon the level/stage/degree of tumor that is present in the kidney. If cancer remains to the limit and the surrounding tissue is present in the kidney and the diagnosis is done at right time then you can cure Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) in time. Approximately 65 people out of 100 (or 65%) continue to live cancer-free lives for at least five years after being diagnosed. More than 50 people in every 100 (more than 50%) continue to live with cancer ten or more years after being diagnosed.

Is Kidney Cancer fatal?

The survival rate of any Kidney cancer patient depends upon the level of cancer cells present and spread within the Kidney. Moreover, around the world, kidney cancer till now took 179,368 lives in 2020. Also, out of every 100% of Kidney patients, only 65% can survive with cancer for five or more than five years if they get a diagnosis with their condition on time. Furthermore out of 100, 50% can survive cancer for 10 years or more than 10 years if they get a timely diagnosis of Kidney cancer.

What are the treatments for Kidney Cancer?

Seek immediate help if your find yourself falling into the condition of classic triad symptoms or any slight symptoms that you may think of it as Kidney cancer. It is better to get yourself into diagnosis if you have the slightest doubt about your condition regarding Kidneys. The kind and stage of kidney cancer will determine the appropriate course of treatment. The treatment methods include:

• Chemotherapy
• Radiotherapy
• Surgery
• Removal of the whole kidney
• Partial removal of kidney
• Adjuvant therapy
• Freezing tumor 
• Treating tumor with high heat
• Biological therapies such as Nexavar, Sutent, everolimus, to rise, and axitinib
• Immunotherapy
• Immune checkpoint inhibitors for Kidney cancer trail
• Nivolumab
• Cabozantinib
• Lenvatinib taken with the combination of everolimus

Conclusion

Kidney cancer is also known by another medical term as Renal cell carcinoma (RCC). Furthermore, 90-95% of cases of cancer patients have Kidney cancer in terms of its commonness. The early signs of Kidney cancer may be subtle or undetectable in nature and its symptoms are good at hiding. Kidney cancer occurs when the kidney cells start to develop changes i.e. DNA mutations, and changes in the way our DNA instructs our Kidneys to function.  

The person with Kidney problems exhibits a classic triad of symptoms. Moreover, the cure of Kidney cancer depends upon the level/stage/degree of tumor that is present in the kidney. If cancer remains to the limit and the surrounding tissue is present in the kidney and the diagnosis is done at right time then you can cure Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) in time. Seek immediate help if your find yourself falling into the condition of classic triad symptoms or any slight symptoms that you may think of it as Kidney cancer.

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