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Kidney Cancer – Doctor and Condition

Kidney cancer is an abnormal growth of cells in the kidney tissue. As the cells grow they form a mass or tumor. There are several different types of kidney cancer, including renal cell carcinoma (the most common form), transitional cell carcinoma, renal sarcoma, and Wilm’s tumor (most common form of kidney cancer in children). There are subtypes of renal cell cancer as well.

Common Symptoms and Related Terminology:

Description of the Problem:

Kidney cancer is often found while looking at other issues. A computerized tomography (CT) is a scan that may be helpful in diagnosing kidney cancer. Kidney cancer often does not present with symptoms in the early stages. Later as the disease progresses, you may notice blood in your urine, back pain, side or flank pain, intermittent fever or abnormal blood chemistry results.

Kidney Cancer Differential Diagnosis (What else could it be?):

Kidney Cancer Evaluation:

Kidney cancer evaluation will be a complete history and physical by your physician. Blood and urine tests, imagining tests such as CT scans, MRI, ultrasound and/or biopsy are used to diagnose kidney cancer.

Kidney Cancer Treatment:

Kidney cancer treatment will depend on the stage of the cancer. Surgery to remove the kidney is called a nephrectomy. Cryoablation or radiofrequency ablation may be used to freeze or heat damage the cancer cells to kill the kidney cancer. Radiation is also an option for treatment of kidney cancer. Chemotherapy may be used as well. The mainstay of kidney cancer treatment is removal of just the mass, or the entire cancerous kidney, as long as the other kidney is healthy. One kidney can do all the work you need.

Kidney Cancer Summary:

Kidney cancer is staged as to the extent of the cancer. Stage I, the tumor can be up to 7 cm and contained within the kidney. Stage II, the tumor is greater than 7cm, but still contained within the kidney. Stage III, the tumor has spread outside the kidney and may be in surrounding lymph nodes. Stage IV, the cancer has spread outside the kidney to the brain, lungs, bones or liver.

Other Possible Related Terms / Things to Search: