Contents
What is kidney cancer?
Kidney cancer is a disease in which the growth of a malignant neoplasm occurs. The tumor can develop on one or both kidneys of the patient. In most cases, patients diagnosed with kidney cancer have metastases in various organs. Most often, this disease occurs in the male half of the population, women are slightly less likely to encounter this problem.
How long do people live with kidney cancer? World statistics data
For many decades, doctors and scientists from around the world have been painstakingly working to improve treatment methods that will allow more successful treatment of oncological diseases. According to statistics published in the media, more than 40 cases of kidney cancer are diagnosed annually in the world. To date, the death rate from kidney cancer remains quite high. About 000 deaths are recorded annually in different countries of the world.
The danger of this oncological disease lies in the fact that in the first stages it can be asymptomatic, and therefore, patients seek medical help too late. Even a brilliantly performed surgical operation to remove a malignant neoplasm or kidney cannot guarantee a patient a long life. This is due to the fact that a few years after surgery, the patient may develop metastases. The process of metastasis of the body almost always deprives the patient of a chance for recovery.
According to world statistics, patients with kidney cancer have the following life expectancy:
with stage 1 kidney cancer – 81% survival
with kidney cancer of the 2nd stage – the survival rate is 74%;
with kidney cancer of the 3nd stage – the survival rate is 53%;
with stage 4 kidney cancer, the survival rate is only 8%.
Currently, in the fight against kidney cancer, doctors use the latest techniques, due to which the life expectancy of patients has increased to 71,5%:
after detection of cancer, 5% of patients live up to 53 years;
after detection of cancer, 10% of patients live up to 43 years.
Symptoms of kidney cancer
In most patients who are diagnosed with kidney cancer, this disease is accompanied by the following symptoms:
severe pain in the lumbar region;
when defecation, the patient finds an admixture of blood in the urine;
the appearance of renal colic;
chronic fatigue;
general weakness and lethargy;
sudden weight loss;
pain when urinating;
loss of appetite;
increased sweating;
arterial hypertension;
swelling of the lower extremities;
temperature increase;
deep vein thrombosis;
liver dysfunction;
an increase in the size of the affected kidney (the tumor becomes palpable on palpation), etc.
With metastasis of internal organs in patients with kidney cancer, certain symptoms are observed:
brain metastases – severe headaches, development of neuralgia;
lung metastases – severe cough; coughing up blood;
liver metastases – jaundice, pain in the right hypochondrium, bitterness in the mouth;
bone metastases – fractures, pain when moving limbs, etc.
Malignant neoplasms of small sizes often develop asymptomatically, and therefore, patients are diagnosed with cancer already at the stage at which other organs are affected by metastases.
Causes of kidney cancer
Reasons for the appearance of malignant neoplasms in the kidneys include the following:
bad habits. Smoking causes great harm to the human body, since nicotine contains carcinogens that have a detrimental effect on the kidney tissue. According to available statistics, among people diagnosed with kidney cancer, the majority of patients had this addiction;
excess weight. Even at an early stage of obesity, people can develop malignant neoplasms in the kidneys. Eating fatty and junk food significantly increases the risk of cancer;
injuries and falls. Any mechanical effect on the kidneys can provoke the appearance of a malignant neoplasm;
medicines. Constant intake of medications, in the treatment of various diseases, increases the risk of a tumor;
genetic predisposition. In some cases, the cause of kidney cancer is poor heredity;
contact with chemicals and radiation;
serious chronic diseases, etc.
Stages and grades of kidney cancer
Modern medicine has determined the stages of development of kidney cancer. Thanks to the existing classification, specialists are able to determine with high accuracy:
course of the disease;
the structure of a malignant neoplasm;
the degree of its development, etc.
Most narrow-profile specialists involved in the treatment of kidney cancer use the international classification of this disease called TNM when diagnosing, where:
M – allows you to identify the presence of metastases in the patient’s body (even distant ones);
N – evaluates the condition of the patient’s lymph nodes;
T – allows a specialist to assess the primary focus of a malignant neoplasm.
In addition to the international classification, the Robson classification, which distinguishes 4 stages of this disease, helps to assess the condition of a cancerous tumor.
kidney cancer stage 1
The first stage of the development of a malignant neoplasm very often goes unnoticed by the patient. Cancer in most cases does not exceed 2,5 cm in diameter. It is located within its capsule and does not extend beyond the edges of the kidney, which makes it difficult to detect on palpation. If patients are diagnosed with this disease at the first stage, then in 90% of cases they will be guaranteed recovery and a quick return to the usual rhythm of life.
kidney cancer stage 2
In the second stage, the size of the cancerous tumor begins to increase. A malignant neoplasm grows slightly. At this phase of development, the tumor is still difficult to diagnose (hardware and laboratory examination is required). With timely detection of cancer, patients still have a favorable prognosis.
kidney cancer stage 3
In the third stage of the development of a cancerous neoplasm, the tumor can significantly increase in size. Very often, a malignant neoplasm spreads to the adrenal glands. Cancer cells begin to invade the lymph nodes and may affect the renal or inferior vena cava.
kidney cancer stage 4
The fourth stage of development is accompanied by the active growth of a malignant neoplasm. Patients develop metastases in various organs: lungs, liver, intestines, etc. This stage of cancer development requires immediate surgical intervention. In patients, the chances of a successful recovery are significantly reduced.
Metastases of kidney cancer
In 40-60% of patients who have been diagnosed with kidney cancer, after some time, metastases are found that affect various organs, depending on the severity of the disease and the localization of the malignant neoplasm.
Most often, cancer patients develop metastases in the following organs:
In baked;
In the lungs;
in the brain;
In the adrenal glands;
in the lymph nodes;
in the spine;
In the skeletal system;
In the costoclavicular space, etc.
In modern medicine, the process of metastasis refers to the manifestation of clinical signs of secondary foci of malignant neoplasms. In some cancer patients, metastases are detected 10 years after the onset of stage 1 cancer. In the case when the lungs are affected by single metastases, then for patients there is a chance that they will regress on their own. Early diagnosis gives patients high chances for successful treatment and a speedy recovery.
Diagnosis of kidney cancer
At the appointment with a urologist, a patient who has complaints of pain in the kidney area will undergo an initial examination. A narrow-profile specialist will collect an anamnesis of the disease, conduct a palpation, and prescribe the necessary tests. In order to confirm your assumptions and make an accurate diagnosis, the patient is assigned hardware diagnostics.
When carrying out diagnostic measures, the purpose of which is to identify a malignant neoplasm in the kidneys, specialists prescribe various examinations to their patients:
ultrasonic;
laboratory;
radioisotope;
X-ray, etc.
To confirm a preliminary diagnosis of kidney cancer, a specialist needs to familiarize himself with the results of a laboratory examination of his patient.
All patients, without exception, are recommended to take the following tests:
biochemical, as well as a clinical blood test;
cytology;
urinalysis (general), etc.
If there is a malignant neoplasm in the kidneys, which is confirmed by laboratory tests, the doctor may prescribe an additional hardware examination to the patient.
Determination of the localization of the tumor can be performed by:
magnetic resonance imaging;
computed tomography;
radionuclide scanning;
radiopaque urography;
renal angiography;
excretory urography;
nephroscintigraphy, etc.
In most cases, patients with kidney cancer undergo a biopsy under ultrasound guidance. During this procedure, the doctor makes a closed puncture to the patient, which is necessary to take biological material from a malignant neoplasm. The obtained samples of cancerous tissues are transferred for morphological examination.
Without fail, patients are sent for an x-ray of the bronchopulmonary system and for an ultrasound examination of the organs of the gastrointestinal tract. Additional diagnostics allows you to determine the presence of metastases in the patient’s body.
Kidney cancer treatment
In the treatment of kidney cancer, doctors use various constructive techniques:
surgery;
hormone therapy;
chemotherapy;
radiation therapy;
immunotherapy, etc.
The most effective treatment for kidney cancer is surgery.
Depending on the stage of the disease, its size and localization, surgeons can perform:
resection – the part of the kidney on which a cancerous tumor is found is removed;
nephrectomy – the entire kidney is removed.
Before choosing a method for treating a malignant neoplasm, a specialist must carry out the necessary diagnostic measures:
collect a complete medical history;
study the results of analyzes and histology;
determine the stage of the disease;
take into account the age of the patient;
identify comorbidities, etc.
Usually, surgeons try to preserve the patient’s organ as much as possible, using more gentle techniques for this. In recent years, specialists have been trying not to perform abdominal operations, in which an incision is made in the skin. Since the mid-90s, leading clinics have begun to use the latest trends in medicine. Thanks to the advent of the cyberknife, surgeons have the opportunity to remove and also stop the growth of malignant neoplasms. Patients who have undergone cyberknife surgery do not need to undergo debilitating chemotherapy. The principle of operation of this device is to destroy the DNA of tumor cells.
In recent years, specialists are trying in any way to save the organ to the patient. They use the latest techniques in treatment:
radiofrequency ablation;
cryoablation, etc.
The choice of a specific treatment technique directly depends on the following parameters of a malignant neoplasm:
tumor size;
localization;
stage of cancer development;
age of the patient, etc.
In the case when a malignant tumor of a small size (up to 4 cm in diameter) was detected in a patient, then specialists perform a kidney resection. During a surgical intervention, a biological material is taken from the patient, which is immediately transferred to the laboratory for histological examination.
A more radical method of surgical treatment of kidney cancer is nephrectomy, during which the patient’s kidney and adjacent tissues are excised: renal fascia, perirenal fatty tissue, regional lymph nodes, etc. If a tumor that has spread to the upper pole of the kidney is detected during the operation, the doctor decides to amputate the adrenal gland.
After surgical treatment, patients undergo postoperative rehabilitation. They are prescribed chemotherapy, radiotherapy, immunotherapy, etc. In some cases (in the presence of a single kidney), patients are referred for hemodialysis, and subsequently they are recommended organ transplantation.
If the tumor did not have time to spread outside the organ, then the patient has every chance to overcome this disease forever. In the case when, before or after treatment, patients metastasize, then there are unfavorable prognosis for them. The patient’s life expectancy will directly depend on the stage of cancer at which he applied to a medical facility.
Chemotherapy for kidney cancer
Most patients with kidney cancer are treated with chemotherapy. The patient, according to a certain scheme, must take special drugs. When penetrating into the blood of the patient, special medicines begin to have an effect on the body. Chemotherapy brings a positive effect only in conjunction with other treatment methods. Its main purpose is to act not only on malignant neoplasms, but also on metastases that can affect any internal organ of the patient.
Doctors are very careful in the choice of medications that will be administered to the patient for a course of chemotherapy. They try to choose those medicines that are able to prolong life as much as possible by slowing down the rate of division of cancer cells.
To date, the most effective drugs for chemotherapy are:
Nexavar – is able to completely stop the formation of new blood vessels of a malignant neoplasm, which provide it with nutrition. This drug is prescribed even to patients who are at stage 4 of the development of kidney cancer;
Sutent – is able to block the blood vessels that provide nutrition to a malignant neoplasm. This drug is prescribed in courses, each of which lasts no more than 4 weeks;
Inhibitor – has a detrimental effect directly on a malignant neoplasm. While taking this medication, the tissues adjacent to the tumor are not damaged. Patients tolerate the course of chemotherapy with this medication very well.
Targeted Therapy
Recently, patients diagnosed with kidney cancer have been treated through the use of targeted therapy. This technique allows the drug to have the necessary effect on the cancerous tumor. Targeted drugs provoke the death of tumor cells. Their use is not accompanied by severe side effects. They practically do not have a negative effect on healthy cells of the affected kidney and nearby organs.
In some clinics, targeted drugs are used in conjunction with traditional methods for the treatment of malignant neoplasms of the kidneys. They work great in parallel with chemotherapy or radiotherapy. Many specialists prescribe targeted medications to their patients in order to prevent the recurrence of cancer.
Targeted drugs at the molecular level stop the development of malignant neoplasms. This therapy helps prevent the growth of cancerous tissue on a healthy part of the organ. The course of treatment with targeted drugs depends on the severity of the disease, as well as on the general condition of the patient’s body.
Kidney removal for cancer
The first laparoscopy, the purpose of which was to remove the kidney, took place in 1990. Since that time, clinics from around the world began to actively implement this technique for surgical nephrectomy for kidney cancer. Currently, every modern clinic that has an operating unit is equipped with a laparoscope without fail.
Laparoscopy allows patients to significantly shorten the postoperative period and return to a normal rhythm of life much faster. According to statistics, the recurrence rate after laparoscopic removal of a cancerous tumor is significantly lower than after nephrectomy of a malignant neoplasm during abdominal surgery.
Before laparoscopy, the patient must undergo special training:
without fail to pass tests (biochemical and clinical blood tests, urinalysis, etc.);
pass histology;
make a fluorography;
make a cardiogram;
take a blood clotting test;
undergo a general medical examination and obtain admission to surgery from a general practitioner.
A week before surgery, the patient must stop taking medications – anticoagulants. The day before the operation, the patient must perform bowel cleansing and stop eating.
This can be done in two ways:
by means of an enema;
with the help of special drugs that stop the bowels and cause severe diarrhea (in most cases, Fortrans is prescribed).
Immediately before laparoscopy (a few hours), the patient is inserted into the bladder catheter, which will be removed the next day after surgery. Laparoscopy, as well as conventional abdominal surgery, is performed under general intravenous anesthesia (with a breathing tube connected). After the patient is taken to the recovery room, he will be given intravenous injections and drips. Immediately after surgery, the patient is injected with potent drugs that block any pain. For the next few days (after the operation), anesthetic injections are given at night, after examining the patient by an anesthesiologist, who, from a conversation with the patient, draws a conclusion about his condition.
Diet for kidney cancer
With any oncological disease, and especially with kidney cancer, the patient must eat right. Doctors strongly recommend that patients adhere to dietary nutrition.
The following foods should be completely eliminated:
Smoked products;
marinades and pickles;
carbonated drinks;
coffee and strong tea;
confectionery, especially with cream;
fish and meat canned food;
beans, peas, chickpeas and other legumes;
meat and fish broth;
sausages and sausages;
lard and fatty meat, etc.
A patient with kidney cancer should completely refrain from drinking alcohol and alcoholic beverages.
The following foods should be present in the daily diet of a patient with a malignant neoplasm:
cereals;
dairy and dairy products;
chicken and quail eggs;
germinated cereals;
plant food;
fruits, etc.
The following foods should be consumed in limited quantities:
lean meat (boiled);
lean fish (boiled);
butter;
cream;
salt and spices, etc.
The daily diet of the patient (consisting of 4-6 meals), in total, should not exceed 3 kg. The amount of fluid you drink should be reduced to 1 liter so as not to put a heavy burden on the kidneys.
Sample menu for a patient with kidney cancer for a week:
Monday:
Breakfast: rice milk porridge, a decoction made from rose hips.
Breakfast (second): vinaigrette, slice of whole grain bread, herbal tea.
Lunch: vegetarian borscht, a slice of whole grain bread, dried fruit compote.
Dinner: low-fat boiled fish, vegetables, a decoction made from rose hips.
Dinner (late): a glass of kefir.
Tuesday:
Breakfast: buckwheat milk porridge, herbal tea.
Breakfast (second): cottage cheese casserole, a decoction made from rose hips.
Lunch: milk soup with vermicelli, jelly.
Dinner: lean boiled meat, vegetables, herbal tea.
Dinner (late): a glass of curdled milk.
Saturday:
Breakfast: oatmeal milk porridge, a decoction made from rose hips.
Breakfast (second): fruit salad, herbal tea.
Lunch: soup from various vegetables, a slice of whole grain bread, fruit juice.
Dinner: fish (steam) cutlets, buckwheat porridge, a decoction made from rose hips.
Dinner (late): a glass of kefir.
Thursday:
Breakfast: semolina milk porridge, herbal tea.
Breakfast (second): vegetable stew, a slice of whole grain bread, a decoction made from rose hips.
Lunch: vegetarian cabbage soup, a slice of whole grain flour bread, jelly.
Dinner: chicken (steam) cutlets, oatmeal, herbal tea.
Dinner (late): a glass of curdled milk.
Friday:
Breakfast: oatmeal milk porridge, a decoction made from rose hips.
Breakfast (second): cottage cheese casserole, herbal tea.
Lunch: milk soup with rice, jelly.
Dinner: steamed veal, carrot and cabbage salad, a decoction made from rose hips.
Dinner (late): a glass of kefir.
Saturday:
Breakfast: rice milk porridge, herbal tea.
Breakfast (second): low-fat cottage cheese + sour cream, a decoction made from rose hips.
Lunch: borsch in vegetable broth, a slice of whole grain flour bread, dried fruit compote.
Dinner: steamed fish, vegetable salad, herbal tea.
Dinner (late): a glass of curdled milk.
Sunday:
Breakfast: buckwheat milk porridge, a decoction made from rose hips.
Breakfast (second): grated carrots + sour cream, herbal tea.
Lunch: soup made from various vegetables, a slice of wholemeal bread, a decoction made from rose hips.
Dinner: steam cutlets, oatmeal, herbal tea.
Dinner (late): a glass of kefir.