CHAPTER 9 Genitourinary System^381
- Assess extremities for edema.
- Teach patient about medications, disease process.
Kidney Cancer
WHAT WENT WRONG?
Kidney cancer occurs when cancer cells create a tumor within the kidney. Ex-
posure to chemicals, lead, and smoking all increase the risk of developing kidney
cancer.
PROGNOSIS
Identification of renal cancer is integral to a favorable outcome. Patients often
have vague symptoms and may not seek healthcare until later in the disease when
the cancer is well developed. Metastatic disease has the worst prognosis.
HALLMARK SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS
- Weight loss
- Anemia due to altered erythropoetin production
- Hematuria
- Elevated blood pressure due to increase in renin production
- Flank pain, dull or aching, occurs in small amount of patients
INTERPRETING TEST RESULTS
- CBC may show either anemia or erythrocytosis.
- Urinalysis shows red blood cells.
- Erythrocyte sedimentation rate elevated.
- Ultrasound shows renal mass.
- CT scan with contrast shows renal mass.
- MRI shows renal mass.
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