Renal Cell Carcinoma

Renal Cell Carcinoma – General Information

The kidneys are two organs characterized by the fact that they are bean-shaped; their size is that of a fist and they are located behind the organs in the abdominal cavity. Just like any other organ in the human body, the kidneys can also develop cancer. The kidneys are components of the urinary system and their main functions are to remove the extra quantity of electrolytes and fluids from the blood, to adjust the pressure of the blood and to assure a normal process of producing the red blood cells. These functions are assured by the huge number of nephrons (small units used in order to filter) which are found in each kidney. In the case of those who suffer from Renal Cell Carcinoma, the nephrons no longer function normally. 

There are different types of cancer which can appear; in the case of adults, the most common type is Renal Cell Carcinoma, which is characterized by the fact that it firstly affects the cells in the small tubes inside the kidneys; in the case of young children, the most common type of cancer which may appear is the Wilms’ tumor. The reports have shown that, during the last years, the frequency of Renal Cell Carcinoma has increased; however, the doctors cannot identify the reason for this situation. In most of the cases, those who suffer from cancer experience no significant signs and symptoms can this is the reason why cancer is usually identified during the procedures and tests for other conditions.  

Renal Cell Carcinoma - Symptoms

The reports have shown that, even though it is a serious disorder, the Renal Cell Carcinoma does not cause any significant symptoms for a long period of time. However, in a late stage, the sufferer may experience one or more of the following: the presence of blood in the urine (the blood is usually colored in red, pink or dark brown), excessive weight loss, extreme back pain, intermittent fever and fatigue. Even though the exact causes which lead to the appearance of Renal Cell Carcinoma is not yet known, there are some factors which may increase the possibility of suffering from this disease. The most common cause, which was reported in most of the cases, is the age; this risk of suffering from this disease is getting higher with the age and the disorder usually affects people older than 60 years. The reports have also shown that men are more likely to suffer from this disorder than are women. Smoking and obesity are other factors which increase the risk of experiencing this type of cancer.  Hypertension, which is a condition characterized by an excessive pressure of the blood, can also increase a person’s risk of suffering from this disorder. Some drugs and chemicals can also be responsible for the appearance of this disease; the most common chemicals which may lead to such problems are cadmium, asbestos and trichloroethylene. Those who are administrated dialysis for a long term are also more likely to develop a type of kidney cancer, and so are those who have had a kidney transplant.

Renal Cell Carcinoma – Treatment

If you notice the appearance of any of the signs and symptoms presented above, you should consult a doctor as soon as possible in order to obtain a sure diagnosis and to benefit from the best way of treatment. In order to obtain a sure diagnosis, your doctor will probably ask you some questions about your medical history; in addition, he will perform a physical examination and he will recommend you to take some tests. The most common tests which a person can take in order to identify whether he suffers from Renal Cell Carcinoma or not are: an ultrasound test, which generates images of the kidneys, a biopsy, which consists of collecting a tissue sample in order to analyze the cells or a computerized tomography, which provides important information about the condition of the patient’s kidneys. These tests, however, can lead to the appearance of some complications, such as bleeding and infections; in addition, in some cases, the Renal Cell Carcinoma may spread to the area where the insertion was made. Apart from these tests, the patient may also request a cystoscopy or an excretory urogram, but these tests are more expensive and they usually do not offer more specific information.
After the Renal Cell Carcinoma is diagnosed, the doctor has to establish the stage of the disorder; in order to do that, the doctor has to determine exactly the dimension of the tumor and whether the cancer had spread to other organs or not.  

The options for treating Renal Cell Carcinoma vary a lot and the best one should be chosen considering the patient’s general health, his age and other important factors. The most common way of treatment is surgery and this can be performed in two different ways. The first type of procedure consists in the removal of the affected kidney; this type of surgery includes an incision, through which the doctor has access to the patient’s kidney. The second type of surgery consists in the removal of the tumor from the affected kidney; this type of surgery is usually chosen in the case of those patients who have only one kidney and in the case of those who are diagnosed with Renal Cell Carcinoma in an early stage. When the doctor cannot perform a surgery, he will probably choose one of these alternative procedures: the freezing of cancer cells or the blockage of the blood flow to the tumor. The freezing of cancer cells is a procedure which consists in the insertion of a number of small needles directly in the tumor; the gas which is contained by these needles generated extreme cold which makes the cells around the needles to freeze. Then, a warm gas in introduced in the needles and thaw the frozen cells. However, this is quite a risky procedure as it can also affect the healthy tissues around the tumor. The blockage of the blood flow to the tumor consists in the injection of a special substance in the vessels which lead to the affected kidney. The vessel clogs and, this way, the nutriments and the oxygen no longer reach the tumor.