Kidney cancer is a rare but life-threatening type of cancer that can develop in the kidneys or tissues surrounding the kidneys.
This type of cancer, which represents approximately 3% of all cases of cancer, has been increasing in prevalence over the past few decades and accounts for 1% of all deaths by cancer in India.
Kidneys are two bean-shaped organs the size of a fist each, located behind the abdominal muscles on either side of the spine.
Kidney cancer or renal cancer starts in the cells of the kidney and is one of the most common cancers in adults. The incidence of kidney cancer has been increasing over the past few decades.
The most common kidney cancer symptom is having a mass or lump in the abdomen. In the initial stage of a kidney tumour, it may not be so noticeable, but as it develops over time, one may experience the following symptoms:
- A lump or mass in the kidney area
- Flank pain
- Loss of appetite
- Weight loss
- Low-grade fever
- Bone pain
- Blood in pee (hematuria)
- Anemia
- High calcium
- Tiredness
- High blood pressure
Although the exact cause is not known, several risk factors have been identified. Kidney cancer is more common in men than women and tends to occur more often in those over 60. However, it can be found in people of all ages.
Here are some of the primary kidney cancer causes:
- Smoking
- High Blood Pressure
- Obesity
- Gene Changes
- Radiation Therapy
- Tuberous Sclerosis complex
- Family History
- Von Hippel-Lindau disease (VHL)
- Long-term dialysis treatment
Kidney cancer is most often diagnosed through a combination of a physical exam, imaging tests, and biopsy.
- A physical exam may reveal a lump in the abdomen or changes in the appearance of the kidney
- Imaging tests, such as an ultrasound, CT scan, or MRI, can help doctors to determine the size and location of a tumour
- A biopsy, in which a small sample of tissue is removed and examined under a microscope, is usually needed to confirm the diagnosis
- For small tumours that are not invading nearby tissues, the treatment will be either surgery or radiation therapy
- For larger tumours that have invaded nearby tissues, surgery followed by chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy may be necessary
Treatment will depend on the type of cancer, its stage, the patient’s overall health and preferences. Surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy are the most common kidney cancer treatment options.
If the cancer is at an early stage and has not spread outside of the kidney, surgery is often the best option. If the cancer has spread, radiation therapy or chemotherapy is necessary.
Surgery
Three types of surgeries can be used to treat kidney cancer: partial nephrectomy, radical nephrectomy, and hemicolectomy.
- With a partial nephrectomy, only part of the kidney is removed (typically just one lobe)
- Radial nephrectomy removes the entire organ along with surrounding lymph nodes
- Hemicolectomy removes the diseased kidney without taking out any other organs
Partial nephrectomies may cause scarring around the kidneys, which could lead to more problems in the future.
Radical nephrectomies and hemicolectomies are more likely to cause this problem because they involve removing larger sections of tissue than partial nephrectomy.
Ablation
Ablation is a less invasive procedure for treating kidney cancer. It involves using heat or cold to destroy the tumour cells.
The patient can go home soon after having the ablation done, but it requires going into the hospital for several days before treatment so that the doctors can monitor closely.
Interstitial radiation therapy
Interstitial radiation therapy uses a special kind of X-ray machine to give high doses of radiation directly to the tumour cells in the kidneys. Radiation therapy delivers high-energy rays from a machine, similar to what we see from the sun, that targets cancer cells.
The goal is to kill those specific cells while limiting damage to healthy tissues.
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy drugs are injected into the bloodstream or taken orally. They travel through the whole body, killing off fast-growing cells such as cancerous ones.
Side effects from chemo vary depending on the drug and person but include hair loss, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, mouth sores, and weakness.
Targeted drug therapy
The newest approach to kidney cancer is targeted drug therapy. These medications target proteins found in tumours and stop them from growing and dividing. They are different from traditional chemotherapy because they do not affect normal cells as normal cells do.
One example of a targeted drug is Sutent (sunitinib malate), which blocks growth signals made by proteins called VEGF receptors.
Immunotherapy
Immunotherapy is also new to the fight against kidney cancer. The immune system naturally fights against foreign invaders like bacteria and viruses, but it sometimes mistakenly attacks healthy cells.
Immunotherapy works by harnessing the immune system’s power to help fight against cancerous cells specifically.
There are four main kidney cancer stages:
- Stage I is the earliest stage and involves only one or two kidney lumps or nodules
- Stage II is when cancer has spread to nearby lymph nodes
- Stage III is when it spreads to other organs like the lungs, liver, brain, or bone but not in the liver itself
- Stage IV is when it has spread to other organs like the lungs, liver, brain, or bone in addition to spreading within the liver itself
There is no definite method to prevent it, but it is possible to lower the risk by making healthy lifestyle choices.
- Quit smoking
- Maintain a healthy weight
- Physical activity can help protect against many types of cancer, including kidney cancer; some studies have found that people who work out more than 30 minutes each day had a 43% reduced risk of developing kidney cancer compared with those who exercised less than 15 minutes per day
- Limit consumption of alcohol to 1 drink per day or less for women and two drinks per day or less for men; alcohol abuse has been associated with an increased risk of developing certain cancers, including kidney cancer
- Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables while limiting the intake of high-fat foods
- Avoid exposure to secondhand smoke
- Get regular checkups from a doctor as part of routine healthcare visits; early detection provides the best chance for successful treatment
If you have any of the following symptoms, you should see a doctor as soon as possible:
- Blood in urine
- A mass or lump in the abdomen
- Persistent pain in the side or back
- Swelling in the legs or ankles
- Weight loss without explanation
Other, less serious conditions can also cause these symptoms. But it’s always best to err on the side of caution and get checked out by a doctor.
You must see a doctor immediately if you’re experiencing any kidney cancer symptoms. Kidney cancer is a serious disease, but with early detection and treatment, many people can make a full recovery.
CK Birla Hospital is dedicated to providing the best possible care for our patients. If you or someone you know has been diagnosed with kidney cancer, we are here to help. Our team of experts will work with you to create a treatment plan tailored to specific needs.
We offer various treatments, including surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy. We also provide support services to help you through this difficult time.