What is Kidney Cancer ?
Kidney cancer is a disease of the urinary tract. Most cases are caught when the chances for a successful treatment are highest, before the disease has spread to distant parts of the body. As a result, kidney cancer’s five-year survival rate is about 75%.
People have two kidneys, one on each side of the back above the waist. Kidneys filter blood. The waste they collect is carried in the urine, which is produced by microscopic tubules inside the kidney. Urine flows from the kidneys through tubes called ureters and down into the bladder.
This cancer arises from these microscopic tubules. Although the disease usually grows as a single tumor within the kidney, in rare cases a kidney may contain more than one tumor, or tumors may be found in both kidneys.
Surgery offers the highest chance for successful treatment when It has not spread. Once the cancer has spread to distant parts of the body, such as the lungs, bones or brain, the chance for a cure is much lower.
Type of Kidney Cancer :
Renal cell carcinoma (RCC): This is the most common type of kidney cancer. There are several sub-types of RCC based on the genetic changes in the cancer cells. These include clear cell, papillary, chromophobe and collecting duct carcinomas, among others. Clear cell carcinoma accounts for 80% of all RCC cases, and most treatments are focused on this type.
Wilms’ tumor: This is a childhood cancer, responsible for 95% of pediatric kidney cancer cases.
Urothelial cell cancer of the renal pelvis and ureter: Cancer of the urinary tract that occurs in the part of the kidney that collects urine or in the ureter is called urothelial carcinoma. Although it is frequently called kidney cancer, it is actually more like a bladder cancer, since most bladder cancers also form urothelial cells.
Risk factors may Include :
A small number of cases can be passed down from one generation to the next. Genetic counseling may be right for you.
Smoking: This is the biggest risk factor. Chemicals in tobacco smoke are absorbed into the blood, and then pass through the kidneys and collect in the urine. These chemicals can damage the kidneys and increase the risk of developing a cancer in the kidney.
Not everyone with risk factors gets kidney cancer. However, if you have risk factors, it’s a good idea to discuss them with your doctor.
Why choose us?
ACH’s method of delivering personalized care for kidney cancer can make a crucial difference in your outcome and recovery.
At ACH, you are the focus of a team of experts who specialize in kidney cancer and strive to provide the most advanced treatment with the least impact on your body. This team includes pathologists who specialize in diagnosing specific types and subtypes of latter; medical, radiation and surgical oncologists with deep expertise in treating the disease; along with specially trained support staff.
Working together, this team utilizes leading-edge technology and techniques from diagnosis through treatment. Your treatment options may include: