Hi Anne - It's always a shock when a young person develops cancer. We'd like to think they're invincible. Unfortunately cancer strikes young people every single day. Your husband's nephew needs your support, so thank you for contacting us for information.
Kidney cancer is a disease in which cancer cells grow in the kidneys. The kidneys are two bean-shaped organs, located just above the waist, on each side of the spine. Their main function is to filter the blood and produce urine by which the body rids itself of waste products and excess water.
Cancer occurs when cells in the body (in this case kidney cells) divide without control or order. Normally, cells divide in a regulated manner. If cells keep dividing uncontrollably when new cells are not needed, a mass of tissue forms, called a growth or tumor. The term cancer refers to malignant tumors, which can invade nearby tissue and spread to other parts of the body. A benign tumor does not invade or spread.
There are two main types of kidney cancer: Wilms' tumor , which occurs predominantly in children, and renal cell carcinoma in adults. The cells that line the ureter may also give rise to transitional cell cancer, and the connective tissues of the kidney may produce sarcomas, which are rare.
Once kidney cancer is found, staging tests are performed to find out if the cancer has spread and, if so, to what extent. Treatment depends on the stage.
Surgery is the most important component of any curative approach to kidney cancer. There is some information suggesting immunotherapies (interleukin or interferon) may be of some benefit. Radiation can be used to treat kidney cancer that has spread to the lung, bones, or brain, but is not considered curative.
Surgery involves the removal of a cancerous tumor, nearby tissue, and possibly nearby lymph nodes. Surgeries to treat kidney cancer include:
* Radical nephrectomy —removal of the entire kidney, adrenal gland, and nearby fatty tissue and lymph nodes
* Partial nephrectomy—removal of the cancerous part of the kidney only, used to treat smaller tumors that have not spread locally.
* Removal of metastases—removal of cancerous tissue that has spread to other parts of the body, particularly when causing symptoms
After surgery, radiation therapy may be used. This is the use of radiation to kill cancer cells and shrink tumors. Chemotherapy may also be used. This is the use of drugs to kill cancer cells. Chemotherapy may be given in many forms including: pill, injection, and via a catheter. The drugs enter the bloodstream and travel through the body killing mostly cancer cells, but also some healthy cells.
In some cases, immunotherapy is used. This procedure is the use of drugs like interleukin-2 and interferon to help the immune system to better fight and destroy cancer cells.
There are many good organizations that can help you and your husband's nephew. These resources include the following:
American Cancer Society
http://www.cancer.org
American Urological Association Foundation
http://www.afud.org
The Kidney Cancer Association
http://www.nkca.org
As you learn more about this young man's situation you will likely have more questions. Please let us know how we can help, and keep us posted on his condition and recovery. We wish both of you all the best in the days ahead.
Take good care,
Pat
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Hi Anne - It's always a shock when a young person develops cancer. We'd like to think they're invincible. Unfortunately cancer strikes young people every single day. Your husband's nephew needs your support, so thank you for contacting us for information.
Kidney cancer is a disease in which cancer cells grow in the kidneys. The kidneys are two bean-shaped organs, located just above the waist, on each side of the spine. Their main function is to filter the blood and produce urine by which the body rids itself of waste products and excess water.
Cancer occurs when cells in the body (in this case kidney cells) divide without control or order. Normally, cells divide in a regulated manner. If cells keep dividing uncontrollably when new cells are not needed, a mass of tissue forms, called a growth or tumor. The term cancer refers to malignant tumors, which can invade nearby tissue and spread to other parts of the body. A benign tumor does not invade or spread.
There are two main types of kidney cancer: Wilms' tumor , which occurs predominantly in children, and renal cell carcinoma in adults. The cells that line the ureter may also give rise to transitional cell cancer, and the connective tissues of the kidney may produce sarcomas, which are rare.
Once kidney cancer is found, staging tests are performed to find out if the cancer has spread and, if so, to what extent. Treatment depends on the stage.
Surgery is the most important component of any curative approach to kidney cancer. There is some information suggesting immunotherapies (interleukin or interferon) may be of some benefit. Radiation can be used to treat kidney cancer that has spread to the lung, bones, or brain, but is not considered curative.
Surgery involves the removal of a cancerous tumor, nearby tissue, and possibly nearby lymph nodes. Surgeries to treat kidney cancer include:
* Radical nephrectomy —removal of the entire kidney, adrenal gland, and nearby fatty tissue and lymph nodes
* Partial nephrectomy—removal of the cancerous part of the kidney only, used to treat smaller tumors that have not spread locally.
* Removal of metastases—removal of cancerous tissue that has spread to other parts of the body, particularly when causing symptoms
After surgery, radiation therapy may be used. This is the use of radiation to kill cancer cells and shrink tumors. Chemotherapy may also be used. This is the use of drugs to kill cancer cells. Chemotherapy may be given in many forms including: pill, injection, and via a catheter. The drugs enter the bloodstream and travel through the body killing mostly cancer cells, but also some healthy cells.
In some cases, immunotherapy is used. This procedure is the use of drugs like interleukin-2 and interferon to help the immune system to better fight and destroy cancer cells.
There are many good organizations that can help you and your husband's nephew. These resources include the following:
American Cancer Society
http://www.cancer.org
American Urological Association Foundation
http://www.afud.org
The Kidney Cancer Association
http://www.nkca.org
As you learn more about this young man's situation you will likely have more questions. Please let us know how we can help, and keep us posted on his condition and recovery. We wish both of you all the best in the days ahead.
December 3, 2009 - 6:52pmTake good care,
Pat
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