Question 1

is kidney cancer lethal?

Accepted Answer

Yes: In general, kidney cancer is a lethal cancer. However, depending on various factors, it may not be lethal. Factors such as the patients age, the aggressiveness of the tumor, and size of the tumor are all important factors. However, kidney cancer overall has a very poor prognosis once it has metastasized.

Question 2

is kidney cancer hereditary?

Accepted Answer

Can be: Certain hereditary syndromes including von hippel lindau, birt-hogg dube syndrome for example, increase risk of kidney cancer.  These syndromes typically have other manifestations as well. However, the vast majority of kidney cancer is sporadic.

Question 3

how common is kidney cancer?

Accepted Answer

Not common: Kidney cancer is not common, however the incidence is rising with the use of modern radiologic imaging, including ct scans.

Question 4

how is kidney cancer treated?

Accepted Answer

Kidney Cancer: Patient should be evaluated by urologist oncologist to secede whether this patient can have radical resection of the kidney in order to give the patient a good chance for cure. 
If the patient is not eligible for surgery than can be treated with sunitinib which is an oral drug, or temsirolimus which is an IV drug. There are several other drugs available to help and support this patient if thes.

Question 5

how  did i get kidney cancer?

Accepted Answer

Difficult to be sure: Most kidney cancers are sporadic, meaning there is no inherited cause, though there are a number of familial syndromes associated with it. Multiple factors including  environmental exposures and possibly diet smoking and obesity can lead to genetic mutations in kidney cells which if not properly repaired can lead to uncontrolled growth sometimes with the ability to spread far from the kidney.

Question 6

how can i treat kidney cancer?

Accepted Answer

Typically surgery: Kidney cancer is primarily treated with surgery if the cancer is confined to the kidney.  Depending on the size/location of the tumor, partial removal (called partial nephrectomy) of just the tumor portion of the kidney is recommended.  The majority is treated minimally invasive techniques including laparoscopic/robotic-assisted surgery.  Cancer spread from kidney may be treated with chemotherapy.

Question 7

how is kidney cancer diagnosed?

Accepted Answer

X-rays: Kidney cancer, when suspected, is primarily diagnosed with imaging studies. These tests include kidney ultrasound, ct scans, and mri. A kidney biopsy is rarely indicated as the diagnosis can usually be made with these imaging studies. Special urine may also be performed as an adjunct to x-rays for certain types of kidney cancers.

Question 8

how aggressive is kidney cancer?

Accepted Answer

Aggressive: Kidney cancer is generally aggressive. There are varying degrees of aggressiveness which is determined by biopsy after the kidney is removed. Untreated aggressive kidney cancer is usually fatal. The treatment of choice is surgery.

Question 9

what are cause of kidney cancer?

Accepted Answer

Kidney cancer: You should see your urologist and also look at nccn.Org but smoking. About a third of kidney cancers are thought to be caused by smoking. Some of the chemicals from tobacco get into the body and are passed out in urine. These chemicals in the urine can be damaging (carcinogenic) to kidney tubule cells.
Other chemical carcinogens. Some workplace chemicals have been linked to an increased risk.

Question 10

how fast can kidney cancer grow?

Accepted Answer

Variable: Generally speaking, the single strongest predictor of growth rate of kidney cancer is fuhrman grade. Grade refers to microscopic features of the tumor cell nucleus. Certain cell types or variants of kidney cancer may also be associated with rapid growth in that they may typically act aggressively and are usually high grade cancers (eg, collecting duct and medullary cancers).

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How can i treat kidney cancer?

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