Kidney Cancer Types, Symptoms, and Stages: Understanding Renal Cell Carcinoma (RCC) and Other Types of Kidney Cancers.

The disease of cancer affects millions of people worldwide. Unquestionably, people are susceptible to a wide variety of malignancies.

This article discusses kidney cancer's many types, symptoms, stages, and possible treatments.

What is kidney cancer?

Kidney cancer starts in the kidneys, where a tumour forms when healthy cells in one or both kidneys grow out of control.

A cancerous or malignant tumour can spread to nearby tissues and essential organs. This is known as metastasis.

Renal cell carcinoma is the most prevalent kidney cancer among adults. In Malaysia, there are 1.9 cases of renal cancer for every 100,000 people. Young children are more likely to develop kidney cancer called Wilms' tumour.

Kidney cancer can be discovered early on when the tumour is tiny and limited to the kidney. In addition, the increased use of imaging methods like computed tomography (CT) scans helps early detection.

Types of kidney cancer

The different types of kidney cancer include:

• Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) makes up 85% of all cases of kidney cancer in adults and is the most prevalent kind. Renal tubules, which are tiny tubes in the kidney, are where RCC often starts.

  While RCC often remains in the kidney, it can spread to other organs, the bones, lungs, or the brain.

• Clear cell renal cell carcinoma, a type of RCC, is the most common kind of kidney cancer. The tumour's cells have a transparent, bubble-like appearance.

• Transitional cell cancer originates in transitional cells that line the ureter or renal pelvis. Urine gathers at the kidney's centre, the renal pelvis, before travelling through the ureter to the bladder.

• Wilms tumour is the most common type in children and accounts for about 5% of kidney cancers in children. Children from 3 to 4 are most often affected.

 

 

Most Wilms tumours only affect one kidney. Yet, it can occasionally affect both kidneys simultaneously.

Kidney cancer symptoms

Most people don't have any symptoms or indicators in the early stages. But if cancer spreads and grows, you could have:

• Blood in the urine (hematuria)

• Lower back or side discomfort

• Hip and rib region flank pain

• A lump in waist or lower back

• Unexplained weight loss, night sweats, fever, or fatigue​

• Loss of appetite

• Anaemia

• Bone pain

• High blood pressure

• High calcium levels

 

 

Causes of kidney cancer

Although the precise cause is unknown, several risk factors might raise your chances of contracting the illness.

Kidney cancer risk factors

Risk factors include:

• Smoking

• Obesity

• High blood pressure

• Family history of cancer

• Radiation therapy

• Gene mutations

• Long-term dialysis treatment

• Tuberous Sclerosis Complex

• Exposure to chlorinated chemicals at work

 

 

Kidney cancer diagnosis

Kidney cancer can be diagnosed via:

• Blood and urine tests

• Imaging tests such as Computed tomography (CT), Ultrasound, Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan, etc.

• Biopsy

 

 

Stages of kidney cancer

When kidney cancer is discovered, your doctor will run tests to determine if the disease has progressed only to the kidney or other body areas. This process is called staging. The TNM system is one method that doctors utilise to specify the stage.

Kidney cancer stages are indicated by Roman numerals that range from I (1) to IV (4). Generally speaking, the lower the number, the less cancer has spread.

A higher number, such as stage IV, denotes an advanced form of the disease that may have progressed to the lymph nodes or other parts of the body.

Kidney cancer treatment

You can discuss your kidney cancer treatment options with your doctor. Treatments can include:

• Surgery (Partial nephrectomy, Radical nephrectomy).

• Nonsurgical treatments (Cryoablation, Radiofrequency ablation).

• Advanced and recurrent kidney cancer treatments (Immunotherapy, Radiation therapy, Chemotherapy, Targeted drug therapy, etc.).

• Precision medicine is an emerging strategy that accounts for a patient’s individual genetic variation, environment and lifestyle to prevent and cure cancer.

 

 

Kidney cancer treatment cost

The estimated price of cancer treatment in Malaysia can reach RM 395k, although costs may vary depending on the kind of disease, with different private hospitals charging various amounts.

Consequently, it is crucial to make sure you are adequately protected against kidney cancer before it happens.

For instance, Prudential provides various coverage options, including the PRUCancer X plan, which is a reliable insurance policy that offers all-inclusive coverage for cancer.

Moreover, PRUMy Medical Plus is a customizable plan with flexible and affordable alternatives that cover Precision Medicine.

You can also choose Prudential's Precision Medicine, which offers access to personalised and successful treatment plans.

Kidney cancer survival rates

The likelihood of surviving kidney cancer varies depending on the cancer stage, the person’s age and general health condition, and the effectiveness of the treatment regimen.

If the cancer is located only in the kidney, the 5-year survival rate is 93%. However, if kidney cancer has spread to other tissues, organs, or local lymph nodes, the 5-year survival rate is 72%. If cancer has spread to other body parts, the 5-year relative survival rate is 15%.

Kidney cancer prevention

There are several ways you might be able to lower your chance of contracting this disease:

• Quitting smoking may reduce your risk.

• Maintaining a healthy weight by exercising and making fruit and vegetable-rich food choices.

• Avoid exposure to harmful substances such as trichloroethylene at work.

• Managing diabetes and high blood pressure.

 

 

Conclusion

Living with kidney cancer is not easy, but there is a possibility for recovery and a good life with the proper treatment. Therefore, having cancer insurance might help ease your worries.

For more on the types of insurance available for cancer, read ‘Cancer Insurance: Protect Yourself from the Most Common Cancers in Malaysia’.