Kidney and renal pelvic cancer occur when cancer begins in the kidney. There are different types of kidney cancers, including renal cell carcinoma, transitional cell cancer, Wilms’ tumor, renal medullary cancer, and collecting duct tumors.
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This article will look at the different types of kidney cancers and which symptoms may be present. It will also explain the treatment options available and what the outlook is for people with each type.
The ACS estimates that almost
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Most often, people with RCC have just one tumor inside one kidney. Some people have more than one tumor in one kidney or tumors in both.
Doctors recognize different subtypes of this cancer, depending on how the cancer cells appear under the microscope.
According to the
- Clear cell RCC: Malignant cells appear pale or clear under the microscope. This is the most common form of RCC, accounting for almost 70% of diagnoses.
- Papillary RCC: These cancer cells grow little, finger-like projections called papillae. Doctors diagnose these cancers in about 10% of people with RCC.
- Chromophobe RCC: This makes up about 5% of RCC diagnoses. The cancer cells are pale in color but appear bigger than clear cell RCC cells under the microscope.
The ACS explains that even rarer types of RCC make up the remaining diagnoses.
Outlook
A relative survival rate helps give an idea of how long a person with a particular condition will live after receiving a diagnosis compared with those without the condition.
For example, if the 5-year relative survival rate is 70%, it means that a person with the condition is 70% as likely to live for 5 years as someone without the condition.
It is important to remember that these figures are estimates. A person can consult a healthcare professional about how their condition is going to affect them.
According to a paper published in the
The authors of the paper state that for people with an early diagnosis of a stage I, localized tumor that has not spread, the 5-year survival rate is 93%. If the cancer develops into stage IV RCC, this figure falls to 12%.
According to the
Transitional cells are cells that can stretch without breaking apart. They form the lining of the renal pelvis and ureter.
The ACS estimates that
Outlook
The journal Oncotarget published a paper stating that the 5-year survival rate for people with transitional cell cancer is
The survival rate refers to the proportion of people who are still alive for a length of time after receiving a particular diagnosis. For example, a 5-year survival rate of 50% means that half of the people are still alive 5 years after receiving the diagnosis.
It is important to remember that these figures are estimates and professionals have based them on the results of previous studies or treatments. A person can consult a healthcare professional about how their condition is going to affect them.
The Rare Disease Database lists renal medullary cancer as a rare but aggressive cancer. It most commonly affects young people of African descent, particularly those with sickle cell trait.
This type of cancer spreads quickly and has often spread to other organs at the time of diagnosis. It more often affects the right kidney than the left.
Outlook
An article published in the Journal of Oncology Practice explains that due to its ability to spread quickly, the survival rate for people with renal medullary cancer depends on how soon a doctor diagnoses it.
It says some people benefit from a combination of chemotherapy and surgery to remove the kidney.
Collecting duct carcinoma is another rare and aggressive form of kidney cancer.
The cancer cells appear similar to renal medullary cancer under the microscope, but this cancer type is not associated with sickle cells and usually occurs in older adults.
Outlook
The journal Cancer Management and Research published a paper giving a 5-year survival rate of
Some types of cancers more often affect children.
One type is called Wilms’ tumor. The
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- Anaplastic histology: The look of these cancer cells can vary greatly, and the central parts of the cell are large and distorted, which is called anaplasia. Typically, these tumors are harder to treat.
- Favorable histology: No anaplasia has occurred in these cells. However, the cells do not look normal. Approximately 9 in 10 Wilms’ tumors have favorable histology.
The risk of Wilms’ tumor is higher in African American children.
Doctors have based the outlook for Wilms’ tumor on the stage of diagnosis, with survival rates of
Other types
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- Mesoblastic nephroma: These usually occur during a person’s first few months of life. Treatment usually involves surgery, and in some cases, chemotherapy.
- Clear cell sarcoma of the kidney: These tumors are harder to cure and are more likely to spread compared with Wilms’ tumors.
- Malignant rhabdoid tumor of the kidney: These usually develop in toddlers and infants. They spread quickly and are hard to treat.
The National Kidney Foundation explains that many people with kidney cancer do not experience any symptoms, particularly during the early stages. They say that kidney cancer diagnoses often occur during imaging tests for other conditions.
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- blood in the urine
- any lumps or swellings in the abdomen, particularly around the kidneys
- a fever that keeps returning
- continuous pain in the side or lower back
- feeling tired and generally unwell
- a lack of appetite
- unexplained weight loss
People with any of these symptoms should speak with a doctor.
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They may then suggest:
- an ultrasound, which is a process that makes pictures of soft tissue and organs inside the body
- blood and urine tests
- CT or MRI scans to take detailed pictures of specific parts of the body
- a biopsy to remove cells or tissues so that doctors can examine them under a microscope
It is very important for a person with kidney cancer to discuss treatment options with a healthcare team. Different types of kidney cancer may need different treatments, but they all depend on whether or not the cancer has spread to other organs.
If the cancer has not spread outside the kidney, doctors may recommend surgery. The
Other treatments include:
- radiation therapy
- targeted drug therapy
- immunotherapy
- cryotherapy, where doctors insert a hollow needle into the tumor, and very cold gases destroy it
- radiofrequency ablation, where high-energy radio waves produce heat that kills the tumor
- chemotherapy
The Urology Care Foundation says that 1 in 4 kidney tumors are benign, or non-cancerous. It explains that if the mass is small in size, it is most likely benign.
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Angiomyolipomas are often associated with tuberous sclerosis, which can also affect the heart, lungs, eyes, and brain. These tumors are more common among women than men.
According to a paper published by StatPearls, oncocytomas are benign, non-cancerous, growths that account for
The most common type of kidney cancer in adults is renal cell carcinoma, which accounts for
Treatments and outlooks depend on the type of cancer and whether or not the cancer has spread to other parts of the body.