Renal Cancer

Definition of kidney cancer: Cancer that forms in tissues of the kidneys. Kidney cancer includes renal cell carcinoma (cancer that forms in the lining of very small tubes in the kidney that filter the blood and remove waste products) and renal pelvis carcinoma (cancer that forms in the center of the kidney where urine collects).

Estimated new cases of kidney (renal cell and renal pelvis) cancer in the United States in 2014: 63,920

Kidney cancer incidence rates are twice as high in men as in women. American Indians/Alaska Natives have higher kidney cancer incidence rates than any other racial or ethnic group in the United States.

The main risk factors for kidney cancer are smoking, obesity, high blood pressure, and having certain inherited conditions. There are no recommended tests to screen for kidney cancer in people who are not at average risk of this disease. Computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans are used to look for kidney cancer in people with an inherited condition that places them at high risk. Standard treatments for kidney cancer include surgery, radiation therapychemotherapy, biological therapy, and targeted therapy.

The Following Stages are Used for Renal Cell Cancer:

Stage I

In stage I, the tumor is 7 centimeters or smaller and is found only in the kidney.

Stage II

In stage II, the tumor is larger than 7 centimeters and is found only in the kidney.

Stage III

In stage III:

  • the tumor is any size and cancer is found only in the kidney and in 1 or more nearby lymph nodes; or
  • cancer is found in the main blood vessels of the kidney or in the layer of fatty tissue around the kidney. Cancer may be found in 1 or more nearby lymph nodes.

Stage IV

In stage IV, cancer has spread:

The Following Stages are Used for Transitional Cell Cancer of the Renal Pelvis and/or Ureter:

Stage 0 (Papillary Carcinoma And Carcinoma In Situ)

In stage 0, abnormal cells are found in tissue lining the inside of the renal pelvis or ureter. These abnormal cells may become cancer and spread into nearby normal tissue. Stage 0 is divided into stage 0a and stage 0is, depending on the type of tumor:

Stage I

In stage I, cancer has formed and spread through the lining of the renal pelvis and/or ureter, into the layer of connective tissue.

Stage II

In stage II, cancer has spread through the layer of connective tissue to the muscle layer of the renal pelvis and/or ureter.

Stage III

In stage III, cancer has spread:

Stage IV

In stage IV, cancer has spread to at least one of the following:

Transitional cell cancer of the renal pelvis and ureter is also described as localized, regional, or metastatic:

Localized

The cancer is found only in the kidney.

Regional

The cancer has spread to tissues around the kidney and to nearby lymph nodes and blood vessels in the pelvis.

Metastatic

The cancer has spread to other parts of the body.


All information was taken from the NCI (National Cancer Institute)