Renal or kidney cancer occurs when there is an abnormal growth of cells in one or both kidneys, leading to the formation of a tumor (renal cortical tumor). A malignant tumor can spread to other parts of the body harming vital organs. Renal cancer may be fatal if not treated in its early stages, and its treatment often involves surgery. If the cancer is not diagnosed in its early stages and has progressively advanced, then the chances of recovery dwindle and it can become fatal. Renal cancer accounts for around 3.7% of all cancer cases and more than 62,000 people are diagnosed with renal cancer each year in the country.
What are the different types of renal cancer?
Renal cell carcinoma (RCC): Renal cell carcinoma is the most common form of renal cancer in adults. It accounts for nearly 85% of all renal cancer cases. Renal cell carcinoma usually develops as a single tumor in one kidney but may progress and affect both kidneys. Renal cell carcinoma begins in the cells lining the proximal renal tubules and progressively spreads to the rest of the organ.
Transitional cell carcinoma: Transitional cell carcinoma is also known as urothelial carcinoma. It accounts for around 10–15% of all renal cancer cases. This cancer affects the area where the ureter is connected to the main portion of the kidney (renal pelvis). Transitional cell carcinoma may also occur in the bladder or the ureters.
Wilms’ tumor: Wilms’s tumor accounts for almost 5% of all renal cancer cases and is the most common type of cancer in children.
Lymphoma: Lymphoma can lead to enlarged kidneys and is generally associated with enlarged lymph nodes (lymphadenopathy) in the neck, abdominal cavity, and chest. Kidney lymphoma appears as a lone tumor in the kidney in rare cases.
Renal sarcoma: Renal sarcoma begins in the connective tissues of the kidney and can spread to nearby bones and organs if not treated. It accounts for around 1% of all renal cancer cases.
Stages of renal cancer
There are four stages of renal cancer.
Stage I: The five-year survival rate of people suffering from stage I renal cancer is around 81%. In stage I, the tumor is quite small and is around 7 cm across and is found within the kidney. The tumor has not spread to other tissues or lymph nodes.
Stage II: The five-year survival rate of people suffering from stage II renal cancer is around 74%. In stage II, the tumor is still quite small and is larger than 7 cm. It is still in the kidney and has not spread to other tissues or lymph nodes.
Stage III: The five-year survival rate of people suffering from stage III renal cancer is around 53%. The tumor no longer resides within the kidney and has spread to the renal vein, inferior vena cava, surrounding tissues, and nearby lymph nodes.
Stage IV: The five-year survival rate of people suffering from stage IV renal cancer is around 8%. The tumor has spread to other vital organs and the adrenal gland and has caused significant damage.
Tumors are rated on the basis of how abnormal its cells look. Tumor grading enables doctors to determine the rate at which the tumor may grow. Tumors having cells which do not look like normal cells are called high-grade tumors. These tumors are more likely than not to spread and grow more quickly than low-grade tumors and may cause significant damage.
What are the symptoms of renal cancer?
Symptoms of renal cancer begin to appear once the tumor starts to grow as there are no noticeable symptoms of the disease in its early stages. The symptoms of renal cancer include tiredness, fever, bone pain, high blood pressure, urine in the blood (haematuria), a lump in the kidney area (the tumor), losing weight, general uneasiness, anemia, pain, and a loss of appetite.
