Kidney cancer
Kidneys are two bean-shaped organs with various important biological rules. The kidneys are located at the back of the abdomen. The main functions of kidneys are balance of the body fluids by filtering the bloods, production of the hormone erythropoietin, etc. The kidneys have two parts- the outer region namely cortex, inner region namely renal pelvis. Both parts have separate functions. Cancer develops in these two parts of kidney is called kidney cancer. Unlike any cancer, the tumors of the kidney cancer are also divided as benign and malignant cancer. The benign tumors are not life threatening as it has no invasion and spreading power to other parts of the body. But the malignant tumor has invasion power and it spreads to other parts of the body. So when the cells develop abnormally in the cortex and renal pelvis of the kidneys is called kidney cancer.
Types of Kidney Cancer :
The types of kidney cancer are categorized according to the nature of the cancer cells. The types are clinically categorized as :
- Renal cell carcinomas : The most common type of cancer that develops in the cortex layer. It is an aggressive tumor with invasion and spreading power.
- Transitional Cell Carcinoma : The second common type of kidney cancer and it develops in the renal pelvis.
- Wilm’s Tumor : It is called nephroblastoma and it happens in the children in the age of 2 to 4.
The other types of kidney cancer are :
- Chromophilic,
- Chromophobic,
- Oncocytic, and
- Collecting duct cancers
The risk factors of kidney cancer are smoking, those of who having family history of kidney cancer, less-proven risk factors such as-obesity (especially in women), analgesic abuse, high blood pressure, and several uncommon hereditary diseases, including von Hippel-Lindau disease and polycystic kidney disease.
Symptoms of Kidney Cancer :
The symptoms of kidney cancer are related to other diseases of the body. The symptoms related to local tumor extension are :
- Hematuria (blood in the urine),
- Abdominal pain, and
- A lump or mass in the area of kidney
The symptoms related to metastatic diseases are :
- Fever,
- Weight loss,
- Night sweats
Other symptoms of kidney cancer are :
- Hypertension,
- Increased calcium in the blood
- Liver problems
- Loss of appetite
- Tiredness
- High temperature
- Feeling poor health
Treatments of Kidney Cancer :
Unlike any cancer the treatment of kidney cancer depends on the stage of the cancer stage which is resulted in the diagnosis procedure. The diagnosis procedures are CT scan, MRI scan; Blood and urine tests, Chest x-ray and bone scan to have a metastatic view to these parts, etc. The staging of the disease helps the physicians to administer the type of the treatment. The treatments of kidney cancer are surgical (which is called nephrectomy), radiotherapy, Chemotherapy and Immunotherapy. There are two types of immunotherapy-Antibody therapy and Cancer vaccines.
Apollo Hospitals, renowned for various cancer treatments in India provides quality treatment of kidney cancer at an affordable price. Our medical team provides effective medical treatments in India and is now updated with all modern infrastructure and quality resources. Free consultation as well as no waiting periods is the advantage one will get in our treatment done by the expert medical groups.