Question 1

Is kidney cancer curable?

Accepted Answer

Kidney cancer can be cured in a patient where the cancer is confined only to the kidneys and has not spread to other organs of the body. Most often, primary kidney cancer can be treated by removing the tumour from the kidney to avoid the recurrence of cancer. However, patients exhibiting growth that has spread beyond the kidney are less likely to do well. If the disease has spread to one or more organs, it is vital to have access to treatments that can stabilise or even eliminate secondary tumours. Some patients with secondary tumours respond well to further treatment (usually in the form of targeted therapy) and others do not respond or respond only temporarily.

Question 2

What are the symptoms of kidney cancer?

Accepted Answer

Symptoms of kidney cancer are not very evident in their early stages. The most common symptom is blood in the urine. Sometimes it won't be visible to the naked eye, but it can still be detected by a urine test. Most people who find blood in their urine do not have kidney cancer. This is mostly a sign of prostate problems, urinary infection, kidney stones or bladder cancer. However, it is always crucial to find out what has caused it. Most kidney cancers are too small to feel, but if you feel a lump or mass in your kidneys, tell your doctor immediately. The sooner kidney cancer is detected, the easier it is to treat. Here are a few symptoms of kidney cancer-

Haematuria - Indicating blood in the urine

Persistent low back pain or pain in the side between the ribs and hip bone

A lump or mass in the kidney-region

High blood pressure or hypertension

Tiredness

Weight loss and/or loss of appetite

Persistent high fever and heavy sweating, especially at night.

Question 3

What are the causes of kidney cancer?

Accepted Answer

With most cancers, there is no direct cause and kidney cancer is no exception. For many people, the cause of cancer is never found. However, certain lifestyle factors can increase the risk of developing the disease:

Age - The risk of developing kidney cancer is highest in people aged 45-75

Diet and obesity - An unhealthy diet and being overweight (obesity) increases the risk of developing kidney cancer.

Smoking - Smoking increases the risk of kidney cancer. The longer a person smokes, and the more cigarettes they smoke, the greater the risk.

Family History -People with siblings or parents suffering from kidney cancer are at higher risk of developing kidney cancer themselves.

An associated medical history - Certain medical conditions, such as high blood pressure (hypertension) and chronic kidney disease, especially people on long-term kidney dialysis, have a higher risk of kidney cancer.

Long-term regular use of painkillers - Frequent and long-term addiction to painkillers such as ibuprofen, naproxen, and phenacetin is linked to kidney cancer.

Question 4

What is Wilms' tumour?

Accepted Answer

Wilms' tumour is a kind of kidney cancer which is found in children below the age of five. Wilms' tumour accounts for up to 95% of childhood kidney cancers.

Question 5

What is the treatment procedure for kidney cancer?

Accepted Answer

Surgery is the primary treatment to treat kidney cancer. If the cancer is not removed at the earliest, it will interfere with the primary functions of the organs and spread to other tissues and organs. If the tumour can be removed when detected in the initial stages, there's a higher chance of recovery. In the advanced stages, the patient will have to go through chemotherapy procedures. The common surgery for the affected kidney includes radical nephrectomy; this is where the entire kidney, the adrenal gland, and the affected surrounding tissues are removed. In many cases, the remaining healthy kidney takes over the entire function of the organs, and this will prevent the need for dialysis.

Question 6

What are some of the common diagnostic tests for kidney cancer?

Accepted Answer

A kidney tumour can grow quite large without causing any major symptoms. Most tumours are found by chance through routine procedures or radiology studies that are done for vague symptoms. At times, physicians can feel an abnormal mass during a physical examination. Some of the common diagnostic tests include urinalysis; this test can detect blood and cancer cells in the urine. Other blood tests will measure creatinine levels to evaluate kidney function and indicate a problem with the organ.

Question 7

How dangerous is kidney cancer?

Accepted Answer

For those who are above 70 years, kidney cancer can be fatal even if detected early. This is because seniors may have other medical conditions that cause complications. For younger patients, kidney tumours are not short-term threats, as they grow slowly, and the risk of spreading at this stage is quite low.

Question 8

Where does kidney cancer spread first?

Accepted Answer

Kidney cancer will often spread to the lungs and bones, and it will also go to the brain, ovaries, liver, and testicles. This is because it has no symptoms in the early stages and can spread quite easily before it’s detected. As the tumour begins to grow, it spreads into fat tissues and major blood vessels around the kidney. It can also creep into the adrenal gland, located right on top of the organ. If the cancer is not detected in the early stages, it can spread to your bloodstream and the lymph system.

Question 9

Can kidney cancer cause back pain?

Accepted Answer

Back pain is a rare symptom that comes with kidney cancer. Almost 41% of people with RCC have reported back pain. However, most people don’t experience severe back pain until cancer has reached later stages. The pain ranges from a dull ache to a sharp stab on one side of the flak or below the ribs on the back.

Question 10

Will kidney tumours show on a CT scan?

Accepted Answer

Imaging tests like Computed Tomography (CT) scans and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scans are often done to find small kidney cancers. However, these tests can be quite expensive. Ultrasound is less costly and can detect some early signs of kidney cancer.

All you need to know about Kidney Cancer