CanCer-666: Kidney Cancer

Treatment Choices by Stage for Kidney Cancer

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The type of treatments your doctor recommends will depend on the stage of the cancer and on your overall health. This section sums up the options usually considered for each stage of kidney cancer - renal cell carcinoma (RCC).</div>
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<span style="color: #38761d;"><b><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">• Stage I or stage II</span></b></span><br />
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Patients with <b>stage I and II kidney cancer</b> - renal cell carcinoma (RCC). most often have their cancers surgically removed by either radical or partial nephrectomy. Additional (adjuvant) chemotherapy, radiation therapy, or immunotherapy after surgery for stage I or stage II kidney cancer - renal cell carcinoma (RCC). is not recommended. Patients who are unable to tolerate kidney surgery because of other serious medical problems are often treated by experimental procedures such as cryoablation or arterial embolization. With surgical treatment, the 5-year survival for stage I patients is between 88% and 100% and the 5-year survival for stage II patients is between 63% and 67%.<br />
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<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b>• Stage III</b></span></span><br />
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Radical nephrectomy is the most common treatment for stage III kidney cancer - renal cell carcinoma (RCC). Sometimes, a patient will have an arterial embolization procedure in attempt to reduce the amount of bleeding during nephrectomy. If the cancer extends into nearby veins, the surgeon may need to cut open these veins and to completely remove the cancer. The 5-year survival for stage III patients varies widely and is between 40% and 80%, depending on the local extent of the cancer.<br />
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<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><b><span style="color: #38761d;">• Stage IV</span></b></span><br />
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<i>Stage IV kidney cancer</i> means that the cancer has grown outside of the kidney or it has spread to other parts of the body such as distant lymph nodes or other organs. Treatment of stage IV kidney cancer depends on how extensive the cancer is and on the person’s general health. In some cases, surgery may still be a part of treatment.<br />
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In rare cases where the main tumor appears to be removable and the cancer has only spread to one other area (such as to one or a few spots in the lungs), surgery to remove both the kidney and the metastasis may be an option if a person is in good enough health. Otherwise, treatment with one of the targeted therapies would probably be the first option.<br />
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If the main tumor is removable but the cancer has spread extensively elsewhere, removing the kidney may still be helpful. This would likely be followed by systemic therapy, which might consist of one of the targeted therapies or cytokine therapy (interleukin-2). More often targeted therapy is used first. It’s not clear if any one of the targeted therapies or any particular sequence is better than another, although temsirolimus appears to be most useful in people with kidney cancers that have a poorer prognosis (outlook).<br />
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For cancers that can’t be removed surgically (because of the extent of the tumor or a person’s health), first-line treatment is likely to be one of the targeted therapies or cytokine therapy. Because advanced kidney cancer is very hard to cure, clinical trials of new combinations of targeted therapies, immunotherapy, or other new treatments are also options.<br />
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For some patients, palliative treatments such as embolization or radiation therapy may be the best option. A special form of radiation therapy called stereotactic radiosurgery can be very effective in treating single brain metastases. Surgery or radiation therapy can also be used to help reduce pain or other symptoms of metastases in some other places, such as the bones.<br />
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Having your pain controlled can help you maintain your quality of life. It’s important to realize that medicines to relieve pain do not interfere with your other treatments and that controlling pain will often help you be more active and continue your daily activities.<br />
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<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b>• Recurrent cancer</b></span></span><br />
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Cancer is called recurrent when it come backs after treatment. Recurrence can be local (in or near the same place it started) or distant (spread to organs such as the lungs or bone). Treatment of kidney cancer that comes back (recurs) after initial treatment depends on where it recurs and what treatments have been used, as well as a person’s health and wishes for further treatment.<br />
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For cancers that recur after initial surgery, further surgery might be an option. Otherwise, treatment with targeted therapies or immunotherapy will probably be recommended. Clinical trials of new treatments are an option as well.<br />
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For cancers that progress (continue to grow or spread) during treatment with targeted therapy or cytokine therapy, another type of targeted therapy may be helpful, at least for a time. If these don’t work, chemotherapy may be tried, especially in people with non-clear cell types of renal cell cancer. Clinical trials may be a good option in this situation for those who want to continue treatment.<br />
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Again, for some patients, palliative treatments such as embolization or radiation therapy may be the best option. Controlling symptoms such as pain is an important part of treatment at any stage of the disease.</div>
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Treatment Choices by Stage for Kidney Cancer

The type of treatments your doctor recommends will depend on the stage of the cancer and on your overall health. This section sums up th...

Kidney Cancer Treatment

ancorez Kidney Cancer 12:45 PM

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After the cancer is found and staged, your cancer care team will discuss your treatment options with you. It is important to take time and think about your possible choices. In choosing a treatment plan, one of the most important factors is the stage of the cancer. Other factors to consider include your overall health, the likely side effects of the treatment, and the probability of curing the disease, extending life, or relieving symptoms. If you have kidney cancer, your treatment options may include:</div>
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<span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">• Active surveillance</span></b></span></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"></span></span></b>In some cases, especially when the cancer is small and slow-growing, the doctor may recommend that the patient is monitored closely and wait to start active treatment until there is evidence that the disease is worsening. This approach is called active surveillance, watchful waiting, or watch-and-wait.</div>
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<span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><b>• Arterial embolization</b></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"></span>Arterial embolization is a type of local therapy that shrinks the tumor. Sometimes it is done before an operation to make surgery easier. When surgery is not possible, embolization may be used to help relieve the symptoms of kidney cancer.</div>
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The doctor inserts a narrow tube (catheter) into a blood vessel in the leg. The tube is passed up to the main blood vessel (renal artery) that supplies blood to the kidney. The doctor injects a substance into the blood vessel to block the flow of blood into the kidney. The blockage prevents the tumor from getting oxygen and other substances it needs to grow.</div>
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People may want to ask the doctor these questions before having arterial embolization:</div>
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<li>Why do I need this procedure?</li>
<li>Will I have to stay in the hospital? How long?</li>
<li>What are the risks and side effects?</li>
<li>Would a clinical trial be appropriate for me?</li>
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<span style="color: #38761d;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">• Biological therapy</span></span></b></span></div>
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Biological therapy is a type of systemic therapy. It uses substances that travel through the bloodstream, reaching and affecting cells all over the body. Biological therapy uses the body's natural ability (immune system) to fight cancer.</div>
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For patients with metastatic kidney cancer, the doctor may suggest interferon alpha or interleukin-2 (also called IL-2 or aldesleukin). The body normally produces these substances in small amounts in response to infections and other diseases. For cancer treatment, they are made in the laboratory in large amounts.</div>
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<span style="color: #38761d;"><b><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">• Chemotherapy</span></b></span></div>
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Chemotherapy is also a type of systemic therapy. Anticancer drugs enter the bloodstream and travel throughout the body. Although useful for many other cancers, most anticancer drugs have shown limited use against kidney cancer. However, many doctors are studying new drugs called targeted agents used wither alone or in new combinations that may prove more helpful. The section on "The Promise of Cancer Research" has more information about these studies.</div>
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<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b>• Immunotherapy (biologic therapy)</b></span></span></div>
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Immunotherapy (also called biologic therapy) is designed to boost the body's natural defenses to fight cancer. It uses materials made either by the body or in a laboratory to improve, target, or restore immune system function. Kidney cancer may be one of the few cancers that the body’s immune system can fight, which often makes immunotherapy effective in treating kidney cancer. Immunotherapy may be beneficial in certain patients.</div>
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Interleukin-2 (IL-2) is a drug that has been used to treat advanced kidney cancer. It is a cellular hormone called a cytokine that is produced by white blood cells and is important in immune system function, including the destruction of tumor cells.</div>
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High-dose IL-2 can cause severe side effects, such as low blood pressure, excess fluid in the lungs, kidney damage, heart attack, bleeding, chills, and fever, so patients may need to stay in the hospital for up to 10 days during treatment. However, some symptoms may be reversible. Only centers with expertise in high-dose IL-2 for kidney cancer should recommend IL-2. Some centers use low-dose IL-2 because it has fewer side effects, although it is not as effective.</div>
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Alpha-interferon is another type of immunotherapy used to treat kidney cancer that has spread. Interferon appears to change the proteins on the surface of cancer cells and slow their growth. Although it has not proven to be as beneficial as IL-2, it has been proven to increase survival when compared with an older treatment called megestrol acetate. Researchers have tested many combinations of IL-2 and alpha-interferon for patients with advanced kidney cancer, and these treatments have also been combined with chemotherapy. It has not been shown in research studies that these combinations are better than IL-2 or interferon alone.</div>
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Researchers are working to learn more about how IL-2 and interferon fight kidney cancer and which patients can benefit the most from these treatments.</div>
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<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b>• Radiation therapy</b></span></span></div>
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Radiation therapy is the use of high-energy x-rays or other particles to kill cancer cells. A doctor who specializes in giving radiation therapy to treat cancer is called a radiation oncologist.</div>
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Radiation therapy is not considered effective as a primary treatment for kidney cancer. It is used alone only rarely to treat kidney cancer because of the high rate of damage that it causes to the healthy kidney. It is used only if a patient cannot have surgery and, even then, usually only on areas where the cancer has spread and not the primary kidney tumor. Most often, radiation therapy is used after the cancer has spread to help ease symptoms, such as bone pain or swelling in the brain.</div>
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The most common type of radiation treatment is called external-beam radiation therapy, which is radiation given from a machine outside the body. When radiation treatment is given using implants, it is called internal radiation therapy or brachytherapy. For kidney cancer, internal radiation therapy is given using a hollow needle to insert radioactive seeds directly into a tumor. Another type of radiation therapy is stereotactic radiosurgery, which is designed to direct the radiation therapy to a specific area without damaging nearby tissue. A radiation therapy regimen (schedule) usually consists of a specific number of treatments given over a set period of time.</div>
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Side effects from radiation therapy may include fatigue, mild skin reactions, upset stomach, and loose bowel movements. Internal radiation therapy may cause some bleeding, infection, and risk of injury to nearby tissue. Most side effects go away soon after treatment is finished.</div>
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<span style="color: #38761d;"><b><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">• Surgery</span></b></span></div>
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Surgery is the removal of the tumor and surrounding tissue during an operation. If the cancer has not spread beyond the kidneys, surgery to remove the tumor, part or all of the kidney, and possibly nearby tissue and lymph nodes, may be the only treatment necessary. A urologist or urologic oncologist is a doctor who specializes in treating kidney cancer using surgery. The types of surgery used for kidney cancer include the following procedures:</div>
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<li><b>Cryoablation (also called cryotherapy or cryosurgery)</b> is the freezing of cancer cells with a metal probe inserted through a small incision. The metal probe is placed into the cancerous tissue using a CT scan and ultrasound as guidance. The procedure requires general anesthesia for several hours. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved this treatment for kidney cancer, but more research studies are needed to determine how effective this treatment is in the long term.</li>
<li><b>Laparoscopic and robotic surgery.</b> In laparoscopic surgery, the surgeon makes several small incisions, instead of the one larger incision in the abdomen used in traditional surgery. Then the surgeon inserts telescoping equipment into these small, keyhole incisions to remove the kidney completely or perform a partial nephrectomy. In some instances, the surgeon may use robotic instruments to perform the operation. This surgery may take longer, but it is less painful afterward and patients recover more quickly. It is important to discuss the potential benefits and risks of these types of surgery with the surgical team.</li>
<li><b>Partial nephrectomy.</b> The surgeon removes only the part of the kidney that contains the tumor. This type of surgery may be used when the person has only one kidney, or when the cancer affects both kidneys. Also, a person with a small kidney tumor (less than 4 centimeters) may have this type of surgery.</li>
<li><b>Radical nephrectomy. </b>Kidney cancer is usually treated with radical nephrectomy. The surgeon removes the entire kidney along with the adrenal gland and some tissue around the kidney. Some lymph nodes in the area also may be removed. </li>
<li><b>Radiofrequency ablation (RFA)</b> is the use of a needle inserted into the tumor to destroy the cancer with an electrical current. The procedure is performed by a radiologist or urologist (a doctor specializing in the urinary tract). The patient is sedated and given local anesthesia to numb the area.</li>
<li><b>Simple nephrectomy.</b> The surgeon removes only the kidney. Some people with Stage I kidney cancer may have a simple nephrectomy.</li>
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<span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><b>• Targeted therapy</b></span></span></div>
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Targeted therapy is a treatment that targets the cancer’s specific genes, proteins, or the tissue environment that contributes to cancer growth and survival. This type of treatment blocks the growth and spread of cancer cells while limiting damage to healthy cells. These drugs are becoming more important in the treatment of kidney cancer.</div>
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Recent studies show that not all tumors have the same targets. In addition, many research studies are taking place now to find out more about specific molecular targets and new treatments directed at them.</div>
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Anti-angiogenesis therapy is a type of targeted therapy used in kidney cancer treatment. It is focused on stopping angiogenesis, which is the process of making new blood vessels. Because a tumor needs the nutrients delivered by blood vessels to grow and spread, the goal of anti-angiogenesis therapies is to “starve” the tumor.</div>
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For clear cell kidney cancer, sunitinib (Sutent), pazopanib (Votrient), and sorafenib (Nexavar), called tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs), are two anti-angiogenic drugs that may be used during treatment. Clear cell kidney cancer has a mutation of the VHL gene that causes the cancer to make too much of a certain protein, known as vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). VEGF controls the formation of new blood vessels. Axitinib (Inlyta), also a TKI, has been approved to treat advanced renal cell carcinoma. Side effects of TKIs may include diarrhea, high blood pressure, and tenderness and sensitivity in the hands and feet.</div>
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Another anti-angiogenic drug, bevacizumab (Avastin), has been shown to slow tumor growth for people with metastatic renal carcinoma. Bevacizumab combined with interferon (see below) slows tumor growth and spreading.</div>
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Temsirolimus (Torisel) and everolimus (Afinitor) are drugs that attack a certain protein that helps kidney cancer cells grow, called mTOR. Studies show that these drugs slow kidney cancer growth.</div>
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You may have different types of doctors on your treatment team, depending on the stage of your cancer and your treatment options. These doctors could include:</div>
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<li><b>A urologist:</b> a surgeon who specializes in treating diseases of the urinary system (and male reproductive system)</li>
<li><b>A radiation oncologist:</b> a doctor who treats cancer with radiation therapy</li>
<li><b>A medical oncologist:</b> a doctor who treats cancer with medicines such as chemotherapy</li>
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Many other specialists might be part of your treatment team as well, including physician assistants, nurse practitioners, nurses, physical therapists, social workers, and other health professionals. It’s important to discuss all of your treatment options as well as their possible side effects with your doctors to help make the decision that best fits your needs. When time permits, getting a second opinion is often a good idea. It can give you more information and help you feel good about the treatment plan you choose. </div>
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Kidney Cancer Treatment

After the cancer is found and staged, your cancer care team will discuss your treatment options with you. It is important to take time a...

Causes of Kidney Cancer

ancorez Kidney Cancer 8:58 AM

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Although many <a href="http://cancer-666.blogspot.com/2013/12/kidney-cancer-risk-factors.html">risk factors</a> may increase the chance of developing kidney cancer, it is not yet known exactly how some of these risk factors cause kidney cells to become cancerous.<br />
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Cancer starts when the structure of the DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) alters - a genetic mutation. DNA provides the cells with a basic set of instructions, much like a computer program for life. The instructions tell cells when to grow, reproduce, and die, among other things. When there is a genetic mutation cells grow in an uncontrollable manner, eventually producing a lump (tumor). <br />
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If the cancer is left untreated it grows and eventually spreads to other parts of the body, usually through the lymphatic system - a series of nodes (glands) that exist throughout the body. The lymph glands produce many of the cells of our immune system. As soon as the cancer reaches the lymphatic system it can spread anywhere in the body and invade bones, blood and organs. The cancer cells continue reproducing uncontrollably, gradually occupying more and more space. <br />
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Our kidneys are part of our urinary system which gets rid of waste and excess fluid and electrolytes from the blood. The kidneys also control the production of red blood cells and regulate your blood pressure. <br />
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There are over 1 million nephrons in each kidney. Nephrons are the tiny filtering units in the kidneys - they filter out waste products as well as minerals and water the body needs expel. The liquid waste is called urine. Urine flows through the ureters; two narrow tubes that connect the kidneys to the bladder. Urine is stored in the bladder. When we urinate (pee) urine travels down another tube, called the urethra, and out of the body.<br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Acquired gene mutations</span></b><br />
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Most DNA mutations related to kidney cancer, however, occur during a person's life rather than having been inherited. These acquired changes in oncogenes and/or tumor suppressor genes may result from factors such as exposure to cancer-causing chemicals (like those found in tobacco smoke), but in many cases what causes these changes is not known.<br />
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About 3 out of 4 people with sporadic (non-inherited) clear cell renal cancer have changes in the VHL gene that cause it not to function properly. These changes were acquired during life rather than being inherited. Other gene changes may also cause renal cell carcinomas. Researchers continue to look for these changes.<br />
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Progress has been made in understanding how tobacco increases the risk for developing renal cell carcinoma. Your lungs absorb many of the cancer-causing chemicals in tobacco smoke into the bloodstream. Because your kidneys filter this blood, many of these chemicals become highly concentrated in the kidneys. Several of these chemicals are known to damage kidney cell DNA in ways that can cause the cells to become cancerous.<br />
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Obesity, another risk factor for this cancer, alters the balance of some of the body's hormones. Researchers are now learning how certain hormones help control the growth (both normal and abnormal) of many different tissues in the body, including the kidneys.<br />
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What is known about the gene changes that lead to kidney cancer is being used to help develop new treatments for this disease. For example, researchers now know that the VHL gene normally stops cells from making a substance called vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). Tumors need new blood vessels to survive and grow and VEGF causes new blood vessels to form. Newer drugs that target VEGF are now being used to treat kidney cancer.<br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Inherited gene mutations</b></span><br />
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Certain inherited DNA changes can lead to conditions running in some families that increase the risk of kidney cancer. These syndromes, which cause a small portion of all kidney cancers. For example, VHL, the gene that causes von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) disease, is a tumor suppressor gene. It normally helps keep cells from growing out of control. Mutations (changes) in this gene can be inherited from parents, causing von Hippel-Lindau disease. When the VHL gene is mutated, it is no longer able to suppress abnormal growth, and kidney cancer is more likely to develop. The genes linked to hereditary leiomyoma and renal cell carcinoma (the FH gene), Birt-Hogg-Dube syndrome (the FLCN gene), and familial renal cancer (SDHB and SDHD) are also tumor suppressor genes, and inherited changes in these genes also lead to an increased risk of kidney cancer.<br />
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People with hereditary papillary renal cell carcinoma have inherited changes in the MET oncogene that cause it to be "turned on" all the time. This can lead to uncontrolled cell growth and makes the person more likely to develop papillary renal cell cancer.</div>
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Causes of Kidney Cancer

Although many risk factors may increase the chance of developing kidney cancer, it is not yet known exactly how some of these risk fact...

Kidney Cancer Risk Factors

ancorez Kidney Cancer 8:38 AM

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A risk factor is anything that affects your chance of getting a disease such as cancer. Different cancers have different risk factors. For example, unprotected exposure to strong sunlight is a risk factor for skin cancer. But risk factors don't tell us everything. Having a risk factor, or even several risk factors, does not mean that you will get the disease. And some people who get the disease may not have had any known risk factors. Even if a person with kidney cancer has a risk factor, it is often very hard to know how much that risk factor contributed to the cancer.<br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Genetic and hereditary risk factors</b></span><br />
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Some people inherit a tendency to develop certain types of cancer. The DNA that you inherit from your parents may have certain changes that give you this tendency to develop cancer. Some rare inherited conditions can cause kidney cancer. It is important that people who have hereditary causes of renal cell cancer see their doctors frequently, particularly if they have already had a renal cell cancer diagnosed. Some doctors recommend regular imaging tests (such as CT scans) for these people. People who have the conditions listed here have a much higher risk for getting kidney cancer, although they account for only a small portion of cases overall:<br />
<ul>
<li><b>Birt-Hogg-Dube (BHD) syndrome</b></li>
</ul>
BHD syndrome is characterised by an increased risk of a number of different types of renal cancer. People with this syndrome develop many small benign skin tumors and have an increased risk of developing different kinds of kidney tumors, including renal cell cancers and oncocytomas. They may also have benign or malignant tumors of several other tissues. The gene linked to BHD is known as folliculin (FLCN).<br />
<ul>
<li><b>Familial renal cancer</b></li>
</ul>
People with this syndrome develop tumors called paragangliomas of the head and neck region, as well as tumors known as pheochromocytomas of the adrenal glands and other areas. They also tend to get kidney cancer in both kidneys before age 40. It is caused by defects in the genes SDHB and SDHD (succinate dehydrogenase subunit B and D, respectively). These gene defects can also cause something called Cowden-like syndrome. People with this syndrome have a high risk of breast, thyroid and kidney cancers.<br />
<ul>
<li><b>Hereditary leiomyoma-renal cell carcinoma (HLRCC)</b></li>
</ul>
Individuals with HLRCC develop benign skin and uterine leiomyomas and, in some cases, highly aggressive type-2 papillary RCC. People with this syndrome develop smooth muscle tumors called leiomyomas (fibroids) of the skin and uterus (in women) and have a higher risk for developing papillary renal cell cancers. It has been linked to changes in the fumarate hydratase (FH) gene.<br />
<ul>
<li><b>Hereditary papillary renal cell carcinoma (HPRCC)</b></li>
</ul>
HPRCC is characterised by occurrence of type 1 papillary RCC as well as tumours in other organs. People with this condition have inherited a tendency to develop one or more papillary renal cell carcinomas, but they do not have tumors in other parts of the body, as is the case with the other inherited conditions listed here. This disorder is linked to changes in many genes, most often the MET gene.<br />
<ul>
<li><b>Hereditary renal oncocytoma</b></li>
</ul>
Some people inherit the tendency to develop a kidney tumor called oncocytoma, which has a very low potential for being malignant.<br />
<ul>
<li><b>Von Hippel-Lindau disease</b></li>
</ul>
The risk of someone with von Hippel Lindau disease developing clear-cell RCC increases with age, reaching 70% by age 60. People with this condition often develop several kinds of tumors and cysts (fluid-filled sacs) in different parts of the body. They have an increased risk for developing clear cell renal cell carcinoma, especially at a younger age. They may also have benign tumors in their eyes, brain, spinal cord, pancreas and other organs; and a type of adrenal gland tumor called pheochromocytoma. This condition is caused by mutations (changes) in the VHL gene.<br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Lifestyle-related and job-related risk factors</b></span><br />
<ul>
<li><b>Obesity</b></li>
</ul>
Obesity is an established risk factor for kidney cancer in both men and women. Risk increases by 24% in men and 34% in women for every additional 5 points in body mass index (BMI). A study published in December 2011 estimated that about 25% of kidney cancer cases in men and 22% in women in the UK in 2010 were linked to being overweight. The mechanisms proposed to explain the strong association with excess bodyweight include raised levels of insulin, oestrogens and growth factors, and changes in cholesterol metabolism or the immune system.<br />
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According to the Million Women Study, risk of kidney cancer increases by 29% per 10cm increase in height. Previous evidence for a relationship of height and kidney cancer risk was inconsistent.<br />
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People who are very overweight have a higher risk of developing renal cell cancer. Some doctors think obesity is a factor in about 2 out of 10 people who get this cancer. Obesity may cause changes in certain hormones that can lead to renal cell carcinoma.<br />
<ul>
<li><b>Smoking</b></li>
</ul>
Smoking increases the risk of developing renal cell carcinoma. The increased risk seems to be related to how much you smoke. The risk drops if you stop smoking, but it takes many years to get to the risk level of someone who never smoked.<br />
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The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) states that kidney, renal pelvis and ureter cancers are all caused by tobacco smoking. On average, current smokers have a 50% increase in risk of kidney cancer. Risk increases with the number of cigarettes smoked per day. People who smoke more than 20 cigarettes per day increase their risk by 60-100% compared to people who have never smoked.<br />
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Kidney cancer risk declines after smoking cessation. As a group, former smokers have a 25% higher risk of kidney cancer. Those who quit ten or more years previously have a similar risk to lifelong never-smokers. Risk for cancer of the renal pelvis is increased by more than three-fold in current smokers and even higher risk increases have been shown for cancers of the ureter.<br />
<ul>
<li><b>Workplace exposures</b></li>
</ul>
IARC states that there is limited evidence that exposure to arsenic and cadmium or printing processes can cause kidney cancer. Although trichloroethylene has been the subject of a number of studies in relation to kidney cancer, and the most recent meta-analysis showed around a 40% risk increase for occupational exposure, IARC does not classify trichloroethylene to be a risk factor for kidney cancer.<br />
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Many studies have suggested that workplace exposure to certain substances increases the risk for renal cell carcinoma. Some of these substances are asbestos, cadmium (a type of metal), some herbicides, benzene, and organic solvents, particularly trichloroethylene.<br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Other risk factors</b></span><br />
<ul>
<li><b>Advanced kidney disease</b></li>
</ul>
People with advanced kidney disease, especially those needing dialysis, have a higher risk of renal cell carcinoma. Dialysis is a treatment used to remove toxins from your body if the kidneys do not work properly.<br />
<ul>
<li><b>Certain medicines</b></li>
</ul>
<i>Diuretics:</i> Some studies have suggested that diuretics (water pills) may be linked to a small increase in the risk of renal cell carcinoma. It is not clear whether the cause is the drugs or the high blood pressure they treat. If you need diuretics, you should take them. You shouldn't avoid them to try to reduce the risk of kidney cancer.<br />
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<i>Phenacetin,</i> once a popular non-prescription pain reliever, has been linked to renal cell cancer in the past. Because this medicine has not been available in the United States for over 20 years, this no longer appears to be a major risk factor.<br />
<ul>
<li><b>Family history of kidney cancer</b></li>
</ul>
The syndromes described above are rare, and it is thought that most of the familial risk for kidney cancer is not linked to them, but rather to more common genes with a smaller impact on risk. A meta-analysis reported a doubling in risk of renal cell carcinoma in people with a first-degree relative diagnosed with kidney cancer. The risk was approximately four times higher when the affected first-degree relative was a sibling. A family history of prostate cancer in a parent or sibling, or melanoma, non-Hodgkin lymphoma, bladder or thyroid cancer in a sibling has also been linked to an increased risk<br />
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People with a strong family history of renal cell cancer (without one of the known inherited conditions listed previously) also have a 2 to 4 times higher chance of developing this cancer. This risk is highest in brothers or sisters of those with the cancer. It's not clear whether this is due to shared genes or something that both people were exposed to in the environment − or both.<br />
<ul>
<li><b>Gender</b></li>
</ul>
Renal cell carcinoma is about twice as common in men as in women. Men are more likely to be smokers and are more likely to be exposed to cancer-causing chemicals at work, which may account for some of the difference.<br />
<ul>
<li><b>High blood pressure (Hypertension)</b></li>
</ul>
The risk of kidney cancer is higher in people with high blood pressure. Some studies have suggested that certain medicines used to treat high blood pressure may raise the risk of kidney cancer, but it is hard to tell if it's the condition or the medicine (or both) that may be the cause of the increased risk.<br />
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The kidneys play a vital role in controlling blood pressure by regulating extracellular fluid (the fluid in the body lying outside the cells). When arterial pressure is high, the kidneys increase the rate at which both water and sodium are excreted. This in turn, results in less extracellular fluid and a decrease in blood pressure.<br />
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According to a meta-analysis, kidney cancer risk increases by around 60% in those with a history of hypertension (high blood pressure). There is a trend of increasing risk with progressively higher diastolic and systolic blood pressure. Risk of kidney cancer falls if hypertension is reduced.<br />
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Analyses excluding kidney cancer cases diagnosed within the first few years of follow-up for hypertension also show an increased risk of kidney cancer, arguing against the theory that the risk increase is a result of kidney cancers being more likely to be detected in those with hypertension, or that raised blood pressure is a result of early stage kidney cancer. Hypertension may cause damage to the kidney directly, or increase susceptibility to carcinogens. A US study estimated that 24% of renal cell carcinoma cases in women and 15% in men are linked to hypertension.<br />
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Some studies have shown an increased risk with use of diuretics and other anti-hypertensive medication, although it is not possible to say whether the effects are independent of hypertension. Recent evidence mainly indicates that anti-hypertensive medication does not increase kidney cancer risk once the hypertension is brought under control.<br />
<ul>
<li><b>Race</b></li>
</ul>
African Americans have a slightly higher rate of renal cell cancer. The reasons for this are not clear.<br />
<ul>
<li><b>Reproductive and intra-uterine factors</b></li>
</ul>
There is evidence of an increased risk of kidney cancer with increasing number of births. While some early studies pointed to confounding by BMI as an explanation for this association, recent evidence supports an increased risk with higher number of births after adjustment for BMI (75% risk increase for four children compared with one-two). There is some evidence for an increased risk after hysterectomy. It has been hypothesised that this is due to changes in the ureter following the procedure.46 However, not all studies showing an association adjusted for BMI, and a recent cohort study that included this factor in the analysis did not show an association. One cohort study showed no association with either number of births or hysterectomy, and more research is needed in this area.<br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Factors shown to have no effect on kidney cancer risk</b></span><br />
<ul>
<li><b>Alcohol</b></li>
</ul>
The World Cancer Research Fund in its 2007 report Food, Nutrition, Physical Activity and the Prevention of Cancer stated that the evidence indicates that alcohol does not have a substantial adverse effect on kidney cancer risk, and that evidence was inadequate to be able to say whether it has a protective effect. There is a 27% risk reduction for alcohol drinking, according to a recent meta-analysis. Almost all this benefit is conferred by light-moderate drinking (up to 15g/day), with no further risk reduction above this level. However, alcohol consumption is known to increase risk of several other cancer types, including breast and bowel.<br />
<ul>
<li><b>Aspirin and paracetamol</b></li>
</ul>
Aspirin use was not been linked to risk in a meta-analysis, and more than one subsequent study. Paracetamol has also not been linked to risk in more than one study.<br />
<ul>
<li><b>Hepatitis C</b></li>
</ul>
Individuals infected with hepatitis C have been shown to be at no increased risk of RCC in a large recent study, and IARC does not classify hepatitis C infection as a cause of kidney cancer. However, one previous study did report an association.</div>
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Kidney Cancer Risk Factors

A risk factor is anything that affects your chance of getting a disease such as cancer. Different cancers have different risk factors. F...

Signs and Symptoms of Kidney Cancer

ancorez Kidney Cancer 9:40 AM

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Unfortunately, early kidney cancers do not usually cause any signs or symptoms, but larger ones might. Some possible signs and symptoms of kidney cancer include:<br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A lump or mass in the kidney area</span></b><br />
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Most kidney cancers are too small to feel, if you feel a lump or swelling in the area of your kidneys, you need to go straight to your doctor. Most kidney cancers are too small for you or a doctor to feel. But it is possible to do an ultrasound scan of the kidneys to check for cancer.<br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Blood in the urine</b></span><br />
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This is the most common symptom of kidney cancer. Doctors call this haematuria. About half of the people diagnosed with kidney cancer will have this symptom when they first go to the doctor.<br />
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Sometimes the blood cannot be seen by the naked eye but can be picked up by a simple urine test. If you ever see blood in your urine, you should go to the doctor. Most people who have blood in the urine do not have kidney cancer. In most cases it is caused by an infection, enlargement of the prostate, or kidney stones.<br />
<ul>
<li><b>See your physician right away if you notice blood in your urine</b><br />
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In most cases, blood in the urine does not mean you have kidney cancer. Blood in the urine can be a sign of many conditions, including kidney stones, prostate problems, urinary tract infections or a non-cancerous cyst on the kidney. It is important that you determine the cause of it as soon as possible by discussing your symptoms and concerns with your doctor.<br />
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In addition to a medical history and physical exam, diagnostic tests include blood and urine studies; imaging tests including ultrasound and computerized tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI); a cystoscopy to provide a view of the bladder, urethra and kidneys; and a biopsy.<br />
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If cancer is found, these tests also help to determine the cancer’s stage – whether it is confined to the kidney, has spread to surrounding tissue or a nearby lymph node, or has moved to distant parts of the body.</li>
</ul>
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Remember that most people who go to the doctor with blood in their urine don't have kidney cancer. In most cases, blood in the urine is caused by an infection, enlargement of the prostate, or kidney stones. Even so, a doctor should always investigate blood in the urine. As the bleeding can come and go, both the doctor and patient may get the impression that the problem has gone away. This can mean that an early, treatable cancer in the kidney or bladder is allowed to grow to a stage where it may be more difficult to treat.<br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Other possible kidney cancer symptoms may include:</span></b><br />
<ul>
<li>Abdominal Mass - a mass in the area of the kidneys discovered during an examination</li>
<li>Anemia - a condition in which the number of red blood cells is below normal</li>
<li>Fatigue and general feeling of poor health</li>
<li>Fever - not due to cold or flu</li>
<li>Flank pain - Pain on one side of the body between the upper abdomen and the back.</li>
<li>Unexplained weight loss, often rapid</li>
</ul>
These symptoms may be caused by cancer, but more often they are caused by other, benign, diseases. For example, blood in the urine can be a sign of kidney, bladder, or prostate cancer, but most often it is caused by a bladder infection or a kidney stone. Still, if you have any of these symptoms, consult a doctor so that the cause can be evaluated and treated, if needed.</div>
</div>

Signs and Symptoms of Kidney Cancer

Unfortunately, early kidney cancers do not usually cause any signs or symptoms, but larger ones might. Some possible signs and symptoms ...

Definition and Description of Kidney Cancer

Gaptek_ancorez Kidney Cancer 11:04 PM

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<h1><span style="text-align: justify;">Definition of Kidney Cancer</span></h1><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAvBdCXQMNW_RfP7hpnx_RfgI5tApjJkcxcBsaQJdYSazCLQOl3ZzfawWxEENTP5vTt4RnXfURUV7xqpJB4UpAyA9uMKyuepFAudcV5uSICyteIFPSBcNvr_-Xhm0KqJi-x8DeGK6SWOQY/s1600/Definition+and+Description+of+Kidney+Cancer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAvBdCXQMNW_RfP7hpnx_RfgI5tApjJkcxcBsaQJdYSazCLQOl3ZzfawWxEENTP5vTt4RnXfURUV7xqpJB4UpAyA9uMKyuepFAudcV5uSICyteIFPSBcNvr_-Xhm0KqJi-x8DeGK6SWOQY/s200/Definition+and+Description+of+Kidney+Cancer.jpg" width="135" /></a></div><b>Kidney <a href="http://cancer-666.blogspot.com/">cancer</a></b> are an disease in which the cells unsure weaves of the kidney begin to arise uncontrollably and anatomy neoplasms. Nephritic cadre carcinoma, which comes inch the cells delineating the kidneys (epithelial cells), are the basal case of kidney cancer. 85 percentage of altogether kidney neoplasms is nephritic cell carcinomas. Embryoma of the kidney are an apace breaking cancer by the kidney about a great deal ascertained inch babies below 4 a long time aged.<br />
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<h2>Description of Kidney Cancer</h2><br />
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The kidneys are a brace of organs determined care frijoles that belong about either go with from the backbone barely higher up the shank. At bottom for each one kidney is bantam metros (tubules) that dribble and fairly the ancestry, asking out the wastes and arriving at urine. The urine that has arrived at along the kidney passes across a metro named the ureter into the vesica. Urine are checked the vesica till it's acquitted of the consistence. Nephritic cell carcinoma broadly acquires inch the delineating by the tubules that dribble and fairly the blood. Cancer the Crab that acquires inch the cardinal allot by <i>the kidney</i> (where the urine are accumulated and debilitated into the ureters) are called transitional cell Cancer the Crab by the pelvis. Transitional cell Cancer the Crab are exchangeable to vesica Cancer the Crab.<br />
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<u>Kidney cancer </u>accountings as about 2-3% by altogether cancers. Inch the U.S., kidney cancer are the 10th basal cancer and the relative incidence accepts added to along 43% as 1973; the deathrate accepts added to along 16%. Agreeing to the American Cancer Society, 35,710 Americans comprised named on kidney cancer inch 2004, and 12,480 became flat by the disease. RCC accountings as 90-95% of malignant neoplasms that arise by the kidney.</div></div>

Definition and Description of Kidney Cancer

Definition of Kidney Cancer Kidney cancer are an disease in which the cells unsure weaves of the kidney begin to arise uncontrollably and...

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