Showing posts with label Kidney cancer. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Kidney cancer. Show all posts

Kidney cancer - Treatment

Treatment-Kidney cancer




The treatment for kidney cancer depends on the size of the cancer and whether it has spread to other parts of the body.
The main treatments are:
  • surgery to remove part or all of the affected kidney – this the main treatment for most people
  • ablation therapies – where the cancerous cells are destroyed by freezing or heating them
  • biological therapies – medications that help stop the cancer growing or spreading
  • embolisation – a procedure to cut off the blood supply to the cancer
  • radiotherapy – where high-energy radiation is used to target cancer cells and relieve symptoms
Cancer that hasn't spread out of the kidney can usually be cured by removing some or all of the kidney, although sometimes cryotherapy or radiofrequency ablation may be used instead.
A complete cure may not be possible if the cancer has spread, but it may be possible to slow its progression and treat any symptoms with surgery, medication and/or radiotherapy.

Surgery

There are two main types of surgery for kidney cancer:
  • an operation to just remove part of the kidney containing the cancer – called a partial nephrectomy
  • an operation to remove the entire affected kidney – called a radical nephrectomy
A partial nephrectomy is usually done if the cancer is small and easy for the surgeon to access. A radical nephrectomy may be necessary for larger cancers or if the cancer has spread beyond the kidney.
It's possible to live a normal life with only one kidney. Your other kidney can usually make up for the kidney that was removed.
Surgery for kidney cancer can be carried out in one of two ways:
  • through a single large incision (cut) in the tummy or back – known as "open" surgery
  • using surgical tools inserted through smaller incisions – known as laparoscopic or "keyhole" surgery
Keyhole surgery tends to have a faster recovery time, but can only be done by trained surgeons and it isn't always suitable. Talk to your surgeon about the pros and cons of each method.
Want to know more?

Ablation therapies

Ablation therapies are treatments that involve either:
  • destroying cancer cells by freezing them (cryotherapy)
  • destroying cancer cells by heating them (radiofrequency ablation)
Either technique may be recommended in certain circumstances (for example, to ensure your kidney keeps working), or if your tumour is small. Both treatments are only available in specialist centres, so you may need to travel to another hospital to have it.
Radiofreqency ablation is carried out by inserting a needle-like probe through your skin, so no large incisions are needed.
Cryotherapy is carried out using needles inserted into the tumour. This can be done through your skin (percutaneous cryotherapy) or through a small incision (laparoscopic cryotherapy).
Side effects of ablation therapies can include bleeding around the kidney and damage to the tube that carries urine from the kidney to the bladder (the ureter).
Want to know more?

Biological therapies

If your cancer is advanced, treatment with biological therapies may be offered. These are medications, usually taken once or twice a day, that help stop the cancer growing and spreading.
There are many different biological therapies, including:
  • sunitinib 
  • pazopanib
  • cabozantinib
  • axitinib
  • everolimus
  • bevacizumab and interferon
  • nivolumab
  • tivozanib
At present, sunitinib, pazopanib, cabozantinib, axitinib, everolimus, nivolumab and tivozanib are recommended for routine use on the NHS.
Some people with advanced kidney cancer may be offered a medication called lenvatinib, to take along with everolimus.
Other medicines aren't currently recommended, but some may be available through the Cancer Drugs Fund.

Side effects

Sunitinib, pazopanib, cabozantinib, axitinib and tivozanib are all taken as regular tablets. Possible side effects include:
Nivolumab is given as a drip directly into a vein every 2 weeks. It works by helping the body's immune system destroy the cancer cells. Side effects are uncommon, but can include:
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Embolisation

Embolisation is a procedure to block off the blood supply to the tumour, causing it to shrink.
It's sometimes recommended if you have advanced kidney cancer and you're not in good enough health to have surgery to remove the affected kidney.
During embolisation, the surgeon will insert a small tube called a catheter into a blood vessel in your groin and then guide it to the blood vessel supplying the tumour.
A substance will be injected through the catheter to block the blood vessel.

Radiotherapy

Radiotherapy is a treatment where radiation is used to target or destroy cancerous cells. It can't usually cure kidney cancer, but it can slow down its progress and help control your symptoms.
It may be recommended if you have advanced kidney cancer that has spread to other parts of the body, such as your bones or brain.
The treatment involves a large machine directing a carefully aimed beam of radiation at the cancerous cells. It's often carried out for a few minutes every day, over a few weeks.
  • tiredness
  • feeling and being sick
  • diarrhoea
  • reddening of the skin in the treatment area
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Care and support

If you're diagnosed with cancer, your treatment and medical care will be of utmost importance.
But other aspects of your life are also important. You'll need to think about the kind of support you need, and know what assistance is available and where you can get it.
Support is also available for people who care for ill partners, children, relatives or friends.
See the care and support guide for information about all aspects of care.
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Kidney cancer - Diagnosis

Diagnosis-Kidney cancer




See your GP if you have symptoms of kidney cancer. They will do some simple checks and can refer you for further tests if necessary.

Seeing your GP

Your GP may:
  • ask you about the symptoms you've been having
  • carry out a simple examination to feel for any lumps or swelling
  • test a sample of your pee for infections or blood – any blood won't always be visible to the naked eye
  • take a small sample of blood so it can be checked for signs of a kidney problem
The checks may help diagnose or rule out some possible causes of your symptoms, such as a urinary tract infection (UTI).
If your GP thinks you need further assessment, they can refer you to a hospital specialist. If you need to be referred urgently, you'll usually be seen within 2 weeks.

Tests for kidney cancer

The tests you might need may include:
  • an ultrasound scan – a scan that uses high frequency sound waves to create an image of your kidneys so your doctor can spot any problems
  • a computerised tomography (CT) scan – a detailed scan where several X-rays are taken and then put together by a computer; you may be given an injection of a dye beforehand so your kidneys show up more clearly
  • a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan – a scan that uses strong magnetic fields and radio waves to produce a detailed image of your kidneys
  • a cystoscopy – where a thin tube is passed up your urethra (the tube that carries urine out of the body) so your doctor can spot any problems in your bladder
  • a biopsy – where a needle is inserted into your kidney to remove a small tissue sample for analysis in a laboratory; local anaesthetic is used to numb the area so the procedure doesn't hurt
These tests can confirm or rule out kidney cancer. If you have cancer, they can help show whether it has spread to other parts of your body.

Stages of kidney cancer

If you're diagnosed with kidney cancer, it will usually be given a "stage". This is a number that describes how far the cancer has spread.
Doctors use the TNM system to stage kidney cancer. This consists of 3 numbers:
  • T (tumour) – given from 1 to 4, depending on the size of the tumour
  • N (node) – given from 0 to 2, depending on whether the cancer has spread to nearby lymph glands
  • M (metastases) – given as either 0 or 1, depending on whether the cancer has spread to another part of the body
Cancer Research UK has more detailed information about the stages of kidney cancer.

Coping with the diagnosis

Being diagnosed with cancer can be very distressing. The news can be difficult to take in and comprehend.
Talking to your friends or family may help, although you might also find it useful to speak to a counsellor, a psychiatrist or other people in a similar situation to you.
Read about coping with a cancer diagnosis for more information and advice.
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Kidney cancer - Symptoms

Symptoms-Kidney cancer




In many cases, there are no obvious symptoms of kidney cancer at first and it may only be picked up during tests carried out for another reason.
If symptoms do occur, they're often similar to those of less serious conditions, such as urinary tract infections (UTIs) or kidney stones.

Main symptoms

Symptoms of kidney cancer can include:
  • blood in your pee – you may notice your pee is darker than normal or reddish in colour
  • a persistent pain in your lower back or side, just below your ribs
  • a lump or swelling in your side (although kidney cancer is often too small to feel)
  • extreme tiredness (fatigue)
  • loss of appetite and weight loss
  • persistent high blood pressure
  • a high temperature of 38C or above
  • night sweats 
  • in men, swelling of the veins in the testicles
  • swollen glands in your neck
  • bone pain
  • coughing up blood
Some of these symptoms only occur once the cancer is more advanced and has spread to other parts of the body, such as the bones or lungs.

When to get medical advice

See your GP if you have symptoms of kidney cancer.
Although it's unlikely you have cancer, it's important to get your symptoms checked out.
Your GP may sometimes need to refer you for some tests in hospital to find out what the problem is.
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Kidney cancer - Overview

Overview-Kidney cancer




Kidney cancer, also called renal cancer, is one of the most common types of cancer in the UK.
It usually affects adults in their 60s or 70s and is rare in people under 50.
It can often be cured if it's caught early. But a cure probably won't be possible if it's not diagnosed until after it has spread beyond the kidney.
There are several types of kidney cancer. These pages focus on the most common type – renal cell carcinoma. The Cancer Research UK website has more information about other types of kidney cancer.

Symptoms of kidney cancer

In many cases, there are no obvious symptoms at first and kidney cancer may only be picked up during tests carried out for another reason.
If symptoms do occur, they can include:
  • blood in your pee – you may notice your pee is darker than normal or reddish in colour
  • a persistent pain in your lower back or side, just below your ribs
  • a lump or swelling in your side (although kidney cancer is often too small to feel)

When to get medical advice

See your GP if you have symptoms of kidney cancer.
Although it's unlikely you have cancer, it's important to get your symptoms checked out.
Your GP will ask about your symptoms and may test a sample of your urine to see if it contains blood or an infection.
If necessary, they can refer you to a hospital specialist for further tests to find out what the problem is.

Causes of kidney cancer

The exact cause of kidney cancer is unknown, but some things can increase your chances of developing it:
These include:
Maintaining a healthy weight, a healthy blood pressure and not smoking is the best way to reduce your risk of kidney cancer.

Treatments for kidney cancer

The treatment for kidney cancer depends on the size of the cancer and whether it has spread to other parts of the body.
The main treatments are:
  • surgery to remove part or all of the affected kidney – this is the main treatment for most people
  • cryotherapy or radiofrequency ablation – where the cancerous cells are destroyed by freezing or heating
  • biological therapies – medications that help stop the cancer growing or spreading
  • embolisation – a procedure to cut off the blood supply to the cancer
  • radiotherapy – using high-energy radiation to target cancer cells and relieve symptoms

Outlook for kidney cancer

The outlook for kidney cancer largely depends on how big the tumour is and how far it has spread by the time it's diagnosed.
If the cancer is still small and hasn't spread beyond the kidney, surgery can often cure it. Some small, slow growing cancers may not need treatment at first.
A cure isn't usually possible if the cancer has spread, although treatment can sometimes help keep it under control. Some people become ill quickly, but others may live for several years and feel well despite their cancer.
Overall, around 7 in every 10 people live at least a year after diagnosis and around 5 in 10 live at least 10 years.
Cancer Research UK has more information about survival statistics for kidney cancer.

Support groups and charities

Further information, advice and support is available if you need it from these organisations:
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