Introduction

Kidney cancer is a condition in which one or more types of cells in the kidney become cancerous or “malignant”. These cells begin to grow uncontrollably and invade the surrounding tissues. Eventually they spread throughout the body or “metastasize”.

Distinguishing the Types

There are well over a dozen different types of kidney cancers but the most common are Renal Cell Carcinoma (RCC), Transitional Cell Carcinoma (TCC), and Wilm’s Tumor.

Knowing the Causes

It isn’t exactly clear why certain kidney cells become cancerous. At the present time, the best we can do is to identify risk factors associated with kidney cancer.

Learning the Risk Factors

Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) tends to occur when you are older (> 60 years old) and it is more common in men, smokers and the obese. Exposure to dialysis and certain toxins can increase your risk for RCC. The risk factors for transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) are similar to that of bladder cancer. In fact, having one increases your risk chance of having the other. Tobacco and certain chemicals and medications can be particularly important for TCC.

Recognizing the Symptoms

Most kidney cancers do not produce pain and may remain silent until late in the disease. It is estimated that as many as 40% of patients are found to have kidney cancer incidentally found during a radiological procedure done for another reason. The “classic” symptoms talked about in textbooks are blood in the urine, pain in the flank or lower ribcage, and a mass in the abdomen.

Making the Diagnosis

Kidney cancer is usually suspected after a kidney mass is found with an IVP, ultrasound, CT, or MRI. Although these tests can strongly suggest cancer, it is usually necessary to get a biopsy to prove it and determine what type of cancer it is.

Staging of Kidney Cancer

After the diagnosis is made, the cancer is “staged” based on a specific classification system. The staging helps determine both treatment and prognosis.

Treating Kidney Cancer

The treatment options for kidney cancer are pretty limited compared to other cancers. The best treatment is to surgically remove all of it before it spreads. With more advanced treatment, Interleukin-2 is the main chemotherapy agent used.

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