Kidney Cancer (Renal Cell Carcinoma)

What is kidney cancer?

Kidney cancer is the growth of abnormal cells in the kidney. Growths of cancer cells are called tumors. Renal cell cancer (or renal cell carcinoma) is the most common type of kidney cancer.

The kidneys are inside your belly, on either side of your spine just above your waist. They make urine by taking waste products and extra salt and water from the blood. They also help control blood pressure.

What is the cause?

The cause of this disease is not known. It happens mostly in adults who are over 40 years old.

The risk for kidney cancer is higher if you:

• are male
• smoke
• are very overweight (obese)
• have von Hippel-Lindau syndrome (a rare hereditary disease)
• are on long-term kidney dialysis

What are the symptoms?

Symptoms may include:

• blood in the urine (most common sign)
• a lump that can be felt in the belly or side
• pain in the lower back or side (flank pain) that does not go away
• loss of appetite
• unexpected weight loss
• tiredness
• fever and night sweats

Many of these symptoms can also be caused by urinary infections or other problems. Make sure that you tell your healthcare provider about your symptoms so the cause can be found as soon as possible.

How is it diagnosed?

Your healthcare provider will ask about your symptoms and examine you. You may have tests to look at the kidneys and see how well they are working. The tests may include:

• blood tests to check for infection, anemia, and kidney function
• ultrasound scan, which uses sound waves and their echoes passed through your body from a small device held against your skin to create pictures of the kidneys
• CT scan, which is a series of X-rays taken from different angles and arranged by a computer to show thin cross sections of your kidneys
• MRI scan, which uses a powerful magnetic field and radio waves to take pictures from different angles to show thin cross sections of the kidneys
• arteriogram, which is a special X-ray of the arteries and veins of the kidneys

Kidney cancer may be hard to diagnose. Sometimes kidney tumors are found when X-rays are taken for other reasons.

How is it treated?

The treatment for renal cell cancer depends on:

• how large the tumor is
• whether the tumor has spread to other parts of your body
• your overall health

The usual treatment is surgery to remove all or part of the cancerous kidney. Other possible treatments are:

• Renal artery embolization, a procedure that is done to block blood flow to the cancerous kidney. The tumor may then get smaller and easier to remove. This procedure may also be done to help to relieve symptoms, such as pain and bloody urine, when surgery is not possible.
• Radiation therapy, which is the use of high-energy rays to kill cancer cells, is sometimes used before surgery to shrink the tumor. Rarely, it is used after surgery to kill cancer cells that may still be in the area were the tumor was. Radiation treatment can also help relieve pain caused by spread of the cancer to other areas, such as the bones or brain.
• Biological therapy, which helps the body's defenses fight the cancer. It is used when the cancer has spread to other parts of the body.

The chances of cure depend on how big the tumor is and whether it has spread to other parts of the body. If the cancer has not spread to nearby lymph nodes or other organs, the long-term survival rates after removal of the kidney cancer are good. Most people can live with just 1 kidney if the other is removed. With dialysis, you can live without both kidneys. If the disease has spread to other organs, surgery to remove the kidney is not as helpful.

After treatment your provider will recommend regular checkups to follow your recovery and to see if the cancer has come back or spread. These checkups may include lab tests, X-rays, and scans. It is important to follow your provider's recommendations for checkups so that any problems can be found early.

How can I take care of myself?

• Follow the full course of treatment prescribed by your healthcare provider.
• Eat a healthy diet and get regular exercise and rest.
• Try to reduce stress and take time for activities that you enjoy. It may help to talk with a counselor about your illness.
• Ask your healthcare provider any questions you have about the disease, treatments, side effects of the treatments, sexuality, support groups, and anything else that concerns you.
• Ask your provider about some alternative methods for pain control, such as relaxation techniques, guided imagery, and hypnosis.
• For more information on cancer, contact national and local organizations such as:
  • American Cancer Society, Inc.
    Phone: 800-ACS-2345 (800-227-2345)
    Web site: http://www.cancer.org
  • National Cancer Institute
    Phone: 1-800-4CANCER, or 1-800-422-6237 (TTY: 1-800-332-8615)
    Web site: http://www.cancer.gov

How can I help prevent kidney cancer?

Because the cause of prostate cancer is not known, doctors don’t know how to prevent it. However, you may be able to lower your risk if you:

• Limit or prevent, if possible, your exposure to cigarette smoke, which appears to make the risk for this disease higher.
• Eat a lot of fruits and vegetables.
• Have regular checkups to check your general health.