Kidney Cancer Details

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Latest Edit: Iva Lloyd, ND 2014-01-01 (EDT)

Editor-In-Chief: Dr. Heidi Kussmann, ND, FABNO

Kidney Cancer is medically termed Renal Cell Carcimona (RCC) and is the cause of about 3% of all adult cancer types. The incidence worldwide is increasing at a rate of 2% annually. Men are affected twice as much as women, and it affects adults in the 40s and 60s.[1].

See Also: Kidney Cancer for an general overview of Kidney Cancer and the naturopathic approach to assessment and treatment.

Characteristics

The characteristics of RCC include:[1]

  • Nearly all RCC in adults are adenocarcinomas.
  • The histologic types can include Chromophil (papillary), Clear Cell, Chromophobe Collecting Duct, and Unclassified RCC.
  • These tumors start in the proximal tubular cells, invade local structures and extend to the renal vein.
  • Metastases occur through lymph and blood circulation systems.
  • Unlike most solid tumors, RCC has an unpredictable growth pattern. It can stay in one place for years, and metastatic sites can remain in one spot for years without any growth. This is not to be confused with remission which is defined as no clinical evidence of disease.
  • The other types of RCC include: Transitional Cell Carcinoma, Nephroblastoma, Lymphomas and Sarcomas, Reninomas, Hemangiopericytomas, and Benign Renal Ademonas.

Conventional Medical Treatments

Tumor production of erythropoietin found in a patient may allow him or her to receive and be responsive to immunotherapy with IL-2 and Interferon alpha. Most cases if detected early enough can be treated successfully with surgical removal of the kidney, also called a nephrectomy. In advanced disease detection, nephrectomy and metastases resection are indicated. Radiation therapy is used to palliate symptoms from metastases to the nervous system and skeletal system.[1]

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 Casciato DA. Manual of Clinical Oncology 5th ed. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins 2004. Pp 295-301