Kidney Cancer (Renal Cell Carcinoma)

It is a malignant disease that develops in the tissue of the kidneys—the bean-shaped organs on both sides of our lower back that filter blood and produce urine—forming a mass (tumor). Its most common type is Renal Cell Carcinoma (RCC).

Smoking doubles the risk of kidney cancer. Additionally, obesity (excess weight), long-term high blood pressure, exposure to industrial chemicals, and advanced age (over 60) are the biggest risk factors.

In the early stages, it shows no symptoms and is usually found incidentally during an ultrasound taken for another disease. When it does show symptoms, its classic triad is: 1- Visible blood in the urine (painless hematuria). 2- Persistent dull ache on the side of the lower back (flank). 3- A palpable hard mass in the abdomen or lower back region.

The tumor is easily seen with a simple Whole Abdominal Ultrasound. A Contrast-Enhanced Abdominal CT or MRI is taken to clearly map the size of the tumor and whether it has spread to the renal vein or lymph nodes. Often, the patient is taken directly to surgery based on the CT image without needing a biopsy.

Kidney cancer is highly resistant to chemotherapy or radiation; therefore, its only and most definitive treatment is SURGERY.
Partial Nephrectomy (Kidney-Sparing): If the tumor is small (under 4-7 cm) and on the outer edge of the kidney, the kidney is not removed; only the cancerous mass is shaved off and removed, saving the kidney.
Radical Nephrectomy: If the tumor is very large or attached to the vessels in the center of the kidney, the diseased kidney (and sometimes the adrenal gland above it) is completely removed. A human can live a completely normal, full life with a single healthy kidney.