Renal cell carcinoma
 | The English used in this article or section may not be easy for everybody to understand. (September 2011) |
Renal cell carcinoma is a type of renal cancer (cancer of the kidneys). Often, if it is found early, it can be cured. However, if the cancer has already spread to other parts of the body metastasized by the time it is diagnosed, it is much more difficult to treat successfully.
Signs and symptoms[change | change source]
- Pain in the flanks (the sides of the abdomen)
- Weight loss
- Fever
- Blood in the urine
- A mass that can be felt through the skin
In bad cases, patients may also have symptoms of metastasis (symptoms in other parts of the body where the cancer has spread)
Treatment[change | change source]
When renal cell carcinoma is diagnosed early on, the best treatment is to remove the sick kidney. This is called nephrectomy. Sometimes, only part of the kidney has to be removed, and the rest can be left in. (This is called a partial nephrectomy).[1]
However, when renal cell carcinoma is more severe (this is called stage IV disease), it is much harder to treat. Current treatments include Interleukin-2, which Improves the cancer in about 5-10% of cases. Other treatments include Nexavar, Torisel, Sutent, Interferon, and Bevacizumab. In some cases, surgeons might remove both the original tumor in the kidney and the ones that spread to other parts of the body. carcinoma.[2] In patients whose cancer has spread to their liver, surgery to remove liver tumors may be helpful.[3]
Oncophage cancer vaccine may also help treat renal cell carcinoma.
Support groups for people with kidney cancer[change | change source]
Kidney Cancer UK is a charity based in the UK, which can help, support and inform on all matter relating to kidney cancer www.kcuk.org.uk
References[change | change source]
- ↑ "Medscape Log In". login.medscape.com.
- ↑ "Oncophage Improves Overall Survival in Intermediate-risk Kidney-cancer Patients - DocGuide". www.docguide.com.[permanent dead link]
- ↑ http://www.urotoday.com/38/browse_categories/renal_cancer/liver_resection_for_metastatic_disease_prolongs_survival_in_renal_cell_carcinoma_12year_results_from_a_retrospective_comparative_analysis__abstract05242010.html[permanent dead link]
Other websites[change | change source]
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