What is the Kidney Cancer Survival Rate
The kidneys are found in the abdominal area at a somewhat oblique angle. The right kidney can be found a bit below the diaphragm near the liver while the left kidney is also located below the diaphragm next to your spleen. You’ll be surprised to known that your kidneys are not symmetrically positioned. The right kidney is a little bit lower than the left kidney and the left kidney is a little closer to the middle than the right kidney. Moreover, the left kidney is also known to be usually larger than the right kidney. The typical healthy kidney would weigh around 150 grams for males and 125 grams for females.
The kidneys are vital for a person’s urinary system to function properly. It is responsible in the regulation of electrolytes, maintain the acid-base balance and regulation of the blood pressure. It also acts the body’s filter that removes the waste from the blood and into the urinary tract. The kidneys are also responsible in reabsorbing water, amino acid and glucose. Moreover, it also produces essential hormones like calcitriol, erythropoietin and renin.
Diseases that Affect Kidney Cancer Survival Rate
Nephrology is the field of study concerned with with the various kidney disorders and diseases. Some of the more common kidney diseases that affect kidney cancer survival rate are -
- Acute Kidney Injury
- Chronic Kidney Diseases
- Nephritic and Nephritic Syndromes
- Nephrolithiasis
- Renal Cysts
- Urinary Tract Infection
- Urinary Tract Obstruction
Different Kidney Cancer Survival Rate
There are at least 10 different type of kidney cancer and renal cell carcinoma is the most common type of kidney cancer. Males are originally thought to be more prone to developing renal cell carcinoma (RCC) but this is slowly shifting. Secondary kidney cancer or kidney metastases is a common kind of renal cell carcinoma. This is when the cancer original started developing in other organs and spread to the kidney. The kidney cancer survival rate for kidney metastases is relatively small as compared to primary renal cell carcinoma. If detected early, the kidney cancer survival rate increases significantly.
Another popular type of kidney cancer is urothelial cell carcinoma (UCC) or otherwise known as transitional cell carcinoma. This typically affects the urinary system and accounts for about 5 percent of all kidney cancers.
In general, the kidney cancer survival rate would greatly depend on the stage or development of the kidney cancer. The kidney cancer survival rate for stage 1 kidney cancer is high at 80 percent within 5 years after diagnosis. Stage 1 is the discovery of only one tumor whose size does not exceed 5 cm. The kidney cancer survival rate for stage 2 is still relatively high at 70 percent within 5 years after diagnosis. Stage 2 is the detection of a few tumors with one measuring beyond 5cm. The kidney cancer survival rate for stage 3 is still relatively high at 50 percent within 5 years after diagnosis. Stage 3 refers to the presence of several tumors varying in size but the cancerous cells are still contained within the kidney. However, the kidney cancer survival rate for individuals with stage 4 kidney cancer is a dismal 8 percent within 5 years after diagnosis.
Annually, it is estimated that 100,000 of people die of renal cell carcinoma and on the average, there are about 2 percent more new diagnosis made annually. This makes renal cell carcinoma the seventh most common cancer and tenth most common cause of death (cancer category) in men. Most cases of renal cell carcinoma are considered primary kidney cancers which makes the kidney cancer survival rate relatively optimistic.
The RCC is most commonly seen in adults, 40 years old and up and is quite uncommon in children.
Symptoms to Watch Out for to Improve Kidney Cancer Survival Rate
- Abdominal pain and swelling
- Back pain
- Blood in urine
- Constipation
- Excessive hair growth (females)
- Intolerance for cold
- Pale skin
- Varicocele swelling or swelling of the veins around the testicular area
- Vision problems
- Weight loss
Treatment Options to Improve Kidney Cancer Survival Rate
Medical practitioners often suggest nephrectomy or surgery to remove parts or the entire kidney. It may also include the necessary removal of the bladder and other surrounding tissues. The kidney cancer survival rate improves drastically after surgery if the entire cancerous cells are removed.
In some instances, you oncologist would suggest hormone treatments to decelerate the growth of the cancer cells. There have also been numerous new medications, like Sorafenib and Sunitinib, available that will improve your kidney cancer survival rate.
However, unlike in other cancers, chemotherapy and radiation therapy are normally not recommended for kidney cancer patients because they do not improve your kidney cancer survival rate.