Kidney Cancer

Kidney cancer begins in the kidneys. Your kidneys are two bean-shaped organs, each about the size of your fist. They are located behind your abdominal organs, one kidney on each side of your spine.

In adults, renal cell carcinoma is the most common type of kidney cancer (about 90 percent of cancerous tumors). Less common types of kidney cancer may occur. Young children are more likely to develop a type of kidney cancer called Wilms tumor.

The incidence of kidney cancer is increasing. One reason for this may be the more frequent use of imaging techniques such as computed tomography (CT) scans. In many cases, kidney cancer is found at an early stage when tumors are small and confined to the kidney, making them easier to treat.

Symptoms

Kidney cancer rarely has symptoms or signs in its early stages. causes symptoms. In later stages, signs and symptoms of kidney cancer may include:

• Blood in your urine that may appear pink, red, or cola-colored

• Blood in your back that does not go away pain

• Loss of appetite

• Unexplained weight loss

• Fatigue

• Fever that usually comes and goes (intermittent)

• Stages of Kidney Cancer

• Once your doctor identifies a kidney lesion that may be kidney cancer, the next step is to determine the extent (stage) of the cancer. Staging tests for kidney cancer may include additional CT scans or other imaging tests your doctor deems appropriate.

• Kidney cancer stages include:

• Stage I. At this stage, the tumor may be up to 7 cm (2 3/4 inches) in diameter. The tumor is limited to the kidney.
  Stage II. Stage II kidney cancer is larger than the stage I tumor, but is still limited to the kidney.
  Stage III. At this stage , the tumor extends beyond the kidney into surrounding tissue and may also have spread to nearby lymph nodes.
  Stage IV. The cancer has spread beyond the kidney to multiple lymph nodes or lymph nodes. mic spreads to distant parts of the body, such as the liver or lungs.

• Laparoscopic Kidney Cancer Treatment

 

• During laparoscopic surgery, your doctor makes a series of small incisions in your lower abdomen and inserts a small tube with a light and a camera (i.e., a laparoscope) to access the kidney. The surgeon walks around and inspects the area on a monitor that receives images from the camera. Once in place, your doctor can view tissue, biopsy suspicious areas, remove tumors, or even remove a kidney with a cutting tool and tissue retrieval device that are part of the laparoscope.

 

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