If you have experienced pain in your side, high blood pressure, blood in your urine, and other symptoms, a specialist may suspect kidney cancer. A disease that develops when kidney cells change and grow out of control. While tumors are not always malignant, it is normal for the oncologist to prescribe a biopsy or radiological images to rule out any possibility of cancer considering your symptoms.
Stay calm during this procedure. Remember that the main objective is to identify the cause of your discomfort. Early detection of any condition increases the chances of successful treatment. Likewise, if it is kidney cancer, there are various treatment options and your medical team will be by your side to support you in overcoming this disease.
At the Astorga clinic we want to help you learn more about kidney cancer, preparing this guide for early detection, diagnosis, treatments and more. Learn about this pathology and make all your appointments with our specialists in highly complex cancer.
To learn about our equipment and treatments, schedule an appointment here.
What is kidney cancer?
We are talking about a type of cancer that originates in the kidneys. It begins when healthy kidney cells change and grow uncontrollably. These mutations form tumors that can invade and destroy healthy kidney tissue.
Over time, and if the disease is not treated, the tumor can break away from the kidney and spread to other parts of the body through the bloodstream or lymphatic system. However, medical follow-up by a specialist will work to prevent this from happening.
Patients with this disease are usually between 65 and 74 years old. It is more likely in men and less common in children. In Colombia in 2020, about 2,500 new cases were registered, according to the Global Cancer Observatory (Globocan).
The exact causes are still unknown, but there are several factors that can increase the risk of developing it, such as: age, smoking, obesity, high blood pressure, chronic kidney disease, family history, certain genetic conditions and exposure to certain chemicals.
Learn about the types of cancer and their treatments: a comprehensive look
Early detection of kidney cancer: is it possible?
While many cases of kidney cancer are diagnosed in their early stages, when the tumor is confined to the kidney and easier to treat, others are discovered in more advanced stages. The American Cancer Society specifies several reasons why early detection can be a challenge:
Silent growth: In some cases, kidney tumors can reach a considerable size without causing pain or noticeable symptoms, making it difficult to diagnose early.
Deep location: The kidneys are located in the back of the abdomen, making them inaccessible to palpation or physical examination, complicating the detection of small tumors.
Lack of screening tests: Unlike other cancers, screening tests are not generally recommended for kidney cancer, as these tests have not been proven to effectively decrease the mortality rate associated with this disease.
However, there are risk groups for developing kidney cancer who may benefit from more frequent monitoring and testing:
People with a family history of kidney cancer.
People with certain genetic syndromes.
Patients with exposure to certain chemicals or toxins.
How does an oncologist diagnose kidney cancer?
To make a diagnosis of kidney cancer, your oncologist will evaluate the presence of symptoms that might not be apparent initially. The most common ones include:
Blood in the urine
Lower back pain that is not due to injury
A mass in your lower back
Fatigue
Unexplained weight loss
Persistent fever
If these symptoms are present, your doctor will perform a physical exam and ask questions about your medical history.
If your oncologist suspects kidney cancer, he or she will perform several diagnostic tests.
A urine test may detect blood or cancer cells.
Blood tests help evaluate kidney function, and a complete blood count may reveal anemia, which is common in patients with kidney cancer.
Chest X-rays may also be done to see if the cancer has spread to the lungs.
For more detailed images, CT scans and MRIs are used.
Ultrasound can determine whether a kidney mass is solid, indicative of cancer.
It can also guide biopsies to obtain tissue samples. Although biopsy is crucial to confirm the presence of cancer, in some cases, radiological images are sufficient for diagnosis.
How many types of kidney cancer are there?
The most prevalent type of kidney cancer is renal cell carcinoma (RCC), accounting for about 90% of diagnoses. Unlike other cancers, it usually occurs in only one kidney, although in rare cases it can affect both. RCC is subdivided into several subtypes, each with its own characteristics and treatments.
Other less common types of kidney cancer include:
Transitional cell cancer: This starts in the cells that line the inside of the renal pelvis, the part of the kidney that stores urine before sending it to the bladder.
Kidney sarcoma: This type of cancer develops in the soft tissues of the kidney, such as blood vessels or connective tissue.
Wilms tumors: Also known as nephroblastoma, this type of cancer primarily affects children and remains relatively rare, with fewer than 500 new cases in the United States each year.
How is the grade of kidney cancer determined?
Your kidney biopsy will help grade the cancer cells. This grading is crucial to help doctors estimate how fast the cancer is growing and spreading. This is done by looking at how similar the cancer cells are to normal kidney cells.
Kidney cancers are graded from 1 to 4, with grade 1 having the most normal-like cells and grade 4 having the most abnormal cells. The latter category usually indicates faster cancer growth.
A higher grade does not always mean a worse prognosis. It is just one of the factors considered in determining treatment. Our oncologists will have the experience and knowledge to interpret the grade of your cancer and discuss treatment options for you.
How to know the severity of your case?
One way to classify the severity of kidney cancer is by using a staging system that ranges from 1 to 4. These stages describe the extent and progression of the cancer—how big the tumor is, where it is in the kidney, and whether it has spread to other areas of the body. Stage 1 is the earliest, and stage 4 is the most advanced. Knowing the stage helps your oncologist determine the best treatment for you.
Stage 1: The tumor is small and confined to the kidney.
Stage 2: The tumor has grown into structures near the kidney.
Stage 3: The cancer has spread to nearby lymph nodes or has grown into the main renal vein (the large vein that carries blood away from the kidney).
Stage 4: The cancer has spread to other parts of the body, such as the lungs, liver, bones, or brain.
What does the stage mean for my treatment?
The stage of your cancer is one of the most important factors your doctor will consider when determining the most appropriate treatment for you. If your cancer is in the early stages, you will have more treatment options and a better prognosis. If you are in the advanced stages, your oncologist will evaluate your situation and determine the most effective treatment to prolong your life and minimize adverse symptoms. The goal will always be to improve your quality of life and, if possible, eradicate the cancer completely.
You may be interested in The importance of psychological care in cancer
Treatments available for you
Surgery
Surgery is a common treatment for kidney cancer. It is used to remove the tumor and some of the healthy tissue around it. There are different types of surgery that can be used, and your doctor will talk to you about which one is best for you.
Once your oncologic surgeon removes all of the visible cancer, he or she may suggest additional treatments to destroy any remaining cancer cells, including chemotherapy or radiation therapy.
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy is a treatment that uses drugs designed to target and kill cancer cells. It can be given in two ways: by injection directly into a vein (intravenously) or as pills taken by mouth. Once the drugs are in your bloodstream, they spread throughout your body, reaching and destroying malignant cells that may be present in various areas.
However, the American Cancer Society notes that chemotherapy is not particularly effective for treating kidney cancer compared to other types of cancer. Although it may be considered as an option if other treatments have not been effective.
Radiation therapy
Treats cancer with high-energy X-rays or other forms of radiation to kill or stop the growth of cancer cells. Of all the forms of radiation therapy that can be administered, external radiation therapy is the most common for kidney cancer. It is a procedure that precisely directs radiation to the area affected by the tumor, minimizing the impact on surrounding healthy tissue.
It is not only used to try to cure or control the disease, but also as palliative therapy, intended to relieve symptoms and improve the patient's quality of life, especially in advanced stages.
Immunotherapy
Works with the body's immune system, either by stimulating it to fight cancer more effectively or by using artificial components that mimic or enhance the immune system's action. It seeks to help the immune system recognize and destroy cancer cells.
The treatment is especially useful for several types of cancer, including kidney cancer, and is commonly administered through an intravenous injection.
Targeted therapy
This is a treatment that uses drugs designed to attack specific features of cancer cells. The advantage of targeted therapy is that it tends to have a more direct impact on malignant cells and less on normal cells, possibly reducing side effects compared to more general treatments such as chemotherapy.
These drugs can be administered as pills taken at home or through intravenous injections. They are also often an option when other treatments have not been effective.
Which clinics should you consider for cancer treatment in Colombia?
Specialty in oncology and access to modern and effective treatments are key factors when choosing where to undergo your treatment and its respective follow-up.
In Colombia, you have the Astorga Oncology Clinic. A 4th Level IPS that has the infrastructure, medical equipment and cutting-edge technology to treat highly complex cancer cases.
We do this together with a team of highly qualified and experienced oncology doctors, with different subspecialties within the field of oncology, who can provide the personalized care you need.
We offer everything from clinical oncology, oncologic hematology, radiotherapy to oncologic rehabilitation, pain and palliative care and research, with unique equipment in Latin America.
Here you will have a comprehensive approach that will lead you to health and well-being.
Commenti