R

renal cancer The growth of a malignant (can-
cerous) tumor in the kidney. Doctors diagnose
about 30,000 people in the United States with
renal CANCER, also called kidney cancer, each year.
Men are twice as likely as women to get renal
cancer, and cigarette smokers (male or female) are
two to four times as likely as nonsmokers to get
renal cancer. The most common form of renal
cancer is renal cell CARCINOMA (RCC), which
accounts for more than 90 percent of RCC among
Americans. RCC arises from the epithelial cells
that line the tubules within the nephrons. A type
of kidney tumor that occurs almost exclusively in
children under age eight is WILMS’S TUMOR, also
called nephroblastoma. Though Wilms’s tumor
also arises from the tubules, its cells, course of

growth, and treatment options are unique. Cancer

from other sites may metastasize to the kidneys.

Symptoms and Diagnostic Path

The earliest indication of renal cancer is HEMATURIA

(BLOODin the URINE), which may be gross (enough

blood is present to discolor the urine) or micro-

scopic (the laboratory detects erythrocytes in the

urine during examination of the urine sample

under the microscope). Other symptoms may

include

• lump or swelling in the central abdomen


• fatigue


• abdominal or back PAINnot related to injury


• unexplained or unintended weight loss

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STAGING OF RENAL CANCER

Renal Cancer Stage Extent of Cancer Treatment Protocols/Options
stage 1 tumor remains confined to one site in one kidney partial or simple NEPHRECTOMY
and is 7 cm or smaller

stage 2 tumor extends beyond the tissue capsule radical nephrectomy
surrounding the kidney or is larger than 7 cm

stage 3 tumor extends to adjacent lymph nodes or the radical nephrectomy
veins that carry BLOODfrom the kidney biological therapy

stage 4 tumor extends to both kidneys or to other organs palliative surgery
in the abdomen or to distant organs such as the palliative therapies
LUNGSor BRAIN

recurrent tumor returns after treatment, appearing either in varies according to previous treatment
the same kidney (when first cancer was stage 1),
the other kidney, or another location in the body