Kidney Cancer or Renal Cancer

The kidney cancer or renal cancer is a result of growth of abnormal cells in the kidney the part of the excretory system.

As the cancer advances it invades the other nearby organs like the liver, colon or the pancreas.

Kidney cancer or renal cancer cells can even metastasize meaning the cancer can spread from its area or region of origin.

If this occurs it may affect the lymph nodes which mean that the disease has affected the other parts of the body as well.

This type of cancer may also form new tumors in the bones and the lungs. The cells found in these tumors after observation are found to be similar to those of the original ones. If they are found to spread in the lungs they are the kidney cancer or renal cancer cells. Therefore it is not the lung cancer but the kidney cancer or renal cancer.

Types of Kidney Cancer or Renal Cancer

Kidney cancer or renal cancer is of different types. The Wilm’s tumor is a type of kidney cancer or renal cancer in children and varies from the adult kidney cancer or renal cancer.

The renal cell cancer is the most common and the transitional cell cancer or carcinoma is the rare type which affects the renal pelvis. The later type is much similar to the bladder cancer and is treated in the same way as the bladder cancer.

With age the risk to develop this disease also increases. Studies show that kidney cancer or renal cancer occurs most often between the ages of 50 and 70. It affects almost twice as many men as women.

The other causes which may lead to this disease include the use of tobacco and smoking. Being overweight or having the obesity problem also forms a high risk of developing the disease.

Environmental and occupational hazards are also a threat for kidney cancer or renal cancer. People working in steel plants in the coke oven and people who have the chances of exposure to asbestos pose to have a chance of developing the disease.

Exposure to radiation either in the past or childhood is dangerous. According to studies the use of drug called phenacetin is also found to be a risk. A disease called Von Hippel-Lindau is an inherited disorder which leads to development of tumors and also a great risk for the disease.

Kidney Cancer or Renal Cancer Prognosis Survival Rate

As with many other types of cancer, the outcome of kidney cancer or renal cancer or the prognosis and the survival rate depends on how advanced it is when it is diagnosed.  In other words this is the stage of the cancer.

According to general statistics of all those diagnosed with this disease, about 55 out of every 100 people diagnosed (55%) live for at least five years after they are diagnosed.

The cancer which has not spread from the kidney is defined as Stage 1. The prognosis of this stage is generally very good. It is found that almost 94% live for at least 5 years after diagnosis. Even with a more aggressive type of tumor the 5 year survival figure is likely to be over 70%.

For Stage 2 kidney cancer or renal cancer patients live for at least 5 years after diagnosis, with treatment for their cancer and for Stage 3 generally between 40 and 70 out of every 100 people diagnosed will live for at least 5 years after diagnosis.

The most advanced stage is the Stage 4 kidney cancer or renal cancer in which about 10 out of every 100 people live for at least 5 years. Unfortunately it is found that about 1 in 4 people (25%) with kidney cancer or renal cancer have stage 4 when they are diagnosed.