What is kidney cancer?
Kidney cancer is a cancer that originates in the kidneys, the two bean-shaped organs found on either side of the spine. The kidneys are responsible for filtering your blood and removing waste, and they are part of your urinary system. When cancer forms in the kidney, abnormal cell growth leads to a cancerous or malignant tumor.
Are there different types of kidney cancer?
There are several different forms of kidney cancer that can affect adults.
Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is the most common form of kidney cancer in adults. This cancer begins in the cells found in the kidney’s tubules and while it typically is only found in a single tumor in one kidney, it can be found in both in some circumstances.
Renal sarcoma accounts for 1% of kidney cancers, making it the least common form of kidney cancers in adults. This cancer grows in the connective tissue within the kidney.
Transitional cell cancer (also known as urothelial carcinoma) originates in the renal pelvis, where the ureter connects to the kidney. This cancer can also be found in the bladder, making up 90% of all bladder cancers and 7% of kidney cancers.
In children, a Wilms tumor can form on the kidney. This form of kidney cancer in children makes up nearly 90% of kidney tumors and is usually found in children under the age of 15. While rare, the presence of this tumor can indicate other congenital syndromes in children, including Denys-Drash syndrome, WAGR syndrome, or Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome.
What are the causes and risk factors for kidney cancer?
The causes for kidney cancer aren’t definitive but risk factors that can increase your chances of developing the condition include smoking, family history, high blood pressure (hypertension), obesity, long-term dialysis treatment, inherited conditions (such as von Hippel-Lindau disease, Birt-Hogg Dube syndrome or tuberous sclerosis complex), and previous radiation treatment, specifically in women who have had cancer in their reproductive organs.
Additionally, as you age, the risk for kidney cancer increases.
What are the symptoms of kidney cancer?
Unfortunately, kidney cancer doesn’t have many symptoms at early stages, but as the disease progresses, patients can experience:
- Flank or back pain
- Weight loss
- Fatigue
- Hematuria (blood in your urine)
- Appetite loss
- Fever
How is kidney cancer diagnosed?
The first steps in diagnosing kidney cancer typically involve testing, including blood, urine, and imaging tests, such as ultrasound, x-ray, CT, or MRI.
In addition, a biopsy may be performed. This involves taking a sample of tissue from your kidney and testing it in a lab to look for cancer cells.
Once a diagnosis is made, kidney cancer is staged. This staging classifies the extent to which the cancer has spread in the body, from stage I (the cancer is limited to the kidney) to stage IV (the cancer is advanced and may have spread to surrounding tissues or areas of the body).
How is kidney cancer treated?
The treatment for kidney cancer will be influenced by the stage it is classified at. If possible, the first step in treatment is removing the cancer.
Typically, this will be performed through surgery and can include removing the entire kidney (nephrectomy) or just removing the cancerous tumor (partial nephrectomy). For small cancers, a partial nephrectomy allows for kidney function to be maintained and can reduce the chances of the need for dialysis in the future.
Nonsurgical treatments may also be an option for small cancers of the kidney if surgery is considered too risky. This form of treatment uses extreme temperatures to heat or freeze the cancer cells.
Other forms of treatment for kidney cancer can include:
- Immunotherapy
- Radiation therapy
- Targeted therapy
- Clinical trials
For more information about the treatment options available at The Iowa Clinic for kidney cancer, call 515.875.9800.