What Is Renal Cell Carcinoma? Symptoms and Treatment

What Is Renal Cell Carcinoma?

Renal cell carcinoma is the most common type of kidney cancer, accounting for % 90 of these cases.

The main function of the kidneys, among our internal organs, is to filter waste from the blood. Filtered waste and extra water become urine. Urine then travels down tubes called ureters and is stored in the bladder until urination.

We have compiled this article on the causes, risk factors, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment methods and prevention of renal cell carcinoma, the most common cancer type of the kidney, an organ with important functions.

Causes and Risk Factors of Renal Cell Carcinoma

The causes of renal cell carcinoma have not yet been definitively identified. However, researchers have identified several known risk factors for the disease.

Risk factors for kidney cancer include:

• Being male
• Being over 50
• Being on dialysis
• Obesity
• Certain other genetic diseases or predispositions, such as Von Hippel-Lindau disease
• Smoking (renal cell and lung cancer are just two of the many cancers whose risk is increased by smoking)
• A family history of kidney or bladder cancer
• Long-term use of painkillers such as aspirin and acetaminophen.

What Are the Symptoms of Renal Cell Cancer?

Unfortunately, symptoms of renal cell carcinoma are generally detected when the disease has progressed. There is no early-detection cancer screening method specific to this disease type.

Symptoms of renal cell carcinoma include:

• Blood in the urine (visible to the naked eye or microscopically)
• An abdominal mass
• Pain in the side of the abdomen or toward the lower back
• Unintentional weight loss
• Fatigue 

- Related topic: 10 causes of blood in the urine

Diagnosis

Kidney cancer is generally diagnosed when a doctor suspects it during radiological imaging performed for another reason.

Renal cell carcinoma is diagnosed through various imaging and blood tests. Ultrasound, computed tomography, MRI scanning and intravenous pyelogram (IVP) are imaging methods that may assist kidney cancer diagnosis. A kidney biopsy is then performed to confirm whether cancer is present and which type it is.

If cancer is identified, further tests may be needed to determine whether it has spread to nearby tissues and organs. This is called staging . The most commonly used imaging method for kidney cancer staging is PET-CT.

-Related Topic: Stages of kidney cancer

How Is Renal Cell Cancer Treated?

Treatment of renal cell carcinoma generally involves a combination of different treatments:

• Surgical removal of the entire kidney is a common treatment for renal cell carcinoma.
• Another treatment is tumor embolization, meaning treatment by blocking (embolizing) the arteries supplying the cancer.
• Radiotherapy may be used to treat kidney cancer, but its effect may be less than in other cancers.
• Chemotherapy is not widely used to treat renal cell carcinoma. It may be used with immunotherapy or when immunotherapy is ineffective.
• Immunotherapyis an effective treatment option for many kidney cancer types. Immunotherapy medicines work by stimulating the immune system. Both checkpoint inhibitors and cytokines are currently used for renal cell cancers.
• Various targeted smart medicines have been approved for use in some people with kidney cancer. These medicines prevent cancer cells from growing or spreading, either by attacking the cells directly or by preventing the growth of blood vessels that supply tumors.

These medicines include:

• Sutent (sunitinib)
• Nexavar (sorafenib)
• Votrient (pazopanib)
• Inlyta (axitinib)

Clinical trials investigating new medicines for kidney cancer are ongoing. Every patient should discuss these options with their doctor.

Prevention

Although there is no proven way to prevent kidney cancer, there are steps we can take to reduce our risk.

• Smoking not only increases renal cell carcinoma risk; continuing to smoke may also make treatment less effective.
• If you are exposed to smoke, dust and chemicals at work, be aware of those exposures. Gasoline, diesel exhaust, arsenic, beryllium, vinyl chloride, nickel chromates, coal products, mustard gas and chloromethyl ethers are all carcinogenic and may occur in some workplaces. Learn more about occupational causes of cancer and how to protect yourself.
• Another important risk factor for renal cell carcinoma is obesity. To prevent this, eat a healthy, balanced diet. Choose a diet rich in fruits and vegetables but low in animal fats and salts, and walk and exercise regularly.

Related Topic

Kidney Cancer Symptoms, Stages and Treatment