Is stage II kidney cancer considered early stage?

Written by Wang Jian
Urology
Updated on September 04, 2024
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The staging of kidney cancer is primarily based on the size of the tumor, whether there is lymph node metastasis, involvement of adjacent organs or lymphatic vessels, and metastasis to distant organs. The TNM staging system is commonly used in clinical settings to stage kidney cancer, where "T" represents the depth of tumor invasion, "N" represents the status of lymph node metastasis, and "M" represents distant metastasis. Stage II refers to a tumor with a maximum diameter greater than seven centimeters but confined to the kidney. Stage II is further divided into stage IIA and stage IIB. Stage IIA refers to a tumor with a maximum diameter greater than seven centimeters but less than ten centimeters, confined to the kidney. Stage IIB refers to a tumor with a maximum diameter greater than ten centimeters, but still confined to the kidney. In the case of stage II kidney cancer, although it is an early stage, curative treatment can be achieved through surgery. Therefore, if diagnosed with stage II kidney cancer, it is vital to pursue aggressive treatment.

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Written by Zou De Bo
Urology
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Dietary precautions for renal cancer

Kidney cancer patients should be cautious with their diet and there are three types of food they should absolutely avoid: First, foods high in salt. Kidney cancer patients often suffer from severe kidney dysfunction, leading to edema. Consuming salty foods can increase the body's sodium content, causing sodium retention which is not metabolized in time, exacerbating the swelling. Second, high-fat foods. Excessive fat can also lead to weight gain, and high body fat can burden the kidneys. Third, foods high in potassium. With kidney cancer, patients often have inadequate kidney function and produce less urine, leading to high levels of potassium in the body. Consuming foods high in potassium can further increase blood potassium levels. Therefore, it's advisable for kidney cancer patients to avoid fruits and vegetables high in potassium.

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Written by Zou De Bo
Urology
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Post-nephrectomy care for renal cancer

Postoperative care measures for kidney cancer primarily include observing the patient's vital signs. After a radical nephrectomy for a large renal tumor, a significant amount of tissue is removed including the kidney, surrounding adrenal fat, and lymph nodes at the renal hilum, which results in larger surgical wounds and potentially more bleeding. Therefore, it is crucial to closely monitor for signs of bleeding and ensure that transfusions and fluid administrations are unobstructed. Secondly, careful observation and management of the wound drainage tubes are required. Thirdly, for radical nephrectomies, once the patient is past the anesthesia phase and the blood pressure is stable, a semi-reclined position can be adopted. Patients who have undergone partial nephrectomy should remain in bed for one to two weeks to prevent further bleeding, and kidney functions should be monitored. Additionally, attention should be paid to symptoms such as breath holding and difficulty in breathing. Postoperative feeding should commence once gastrointestinal function is restored; thereafter, nutrition should be enhanced to boost bodily resistance. Calming medications may be appropriately used to ease pain, facilitating movement, effective coughing, and expectoration.

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Written by Zhou Qi
Nephrology
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Can kidney cancer patients be contagious?

Kidney cancer is not an infectious disease, so it is not contagious. Kidney cancer actually occurs when carcinogenic changes happen in the epithelial cells of the renal tubules, leading to the formation of masses and blood in the urine within the kidneys, and can even cause kidney failure. Moreover, kidney cancer carries a certain risk of metastasis, potentially causing damage to other organs. This disease is not contagious. The so-called infectiousness of a disease is due to the presence of pathogens that can cause infection. For example, hepatitis B can be transmitted because carriers have the hepatitis B virus in their bodies. Kidney cancer, however, does not involve viruses, bacteria, or fungi, so it is not infectious.

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Written by Wang Jian
Urology
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Is Stage 2 kidney cancer considered early stage?

Kidney cancer refers to a malignant tumor that occurs in the kidney. The causes of kidney cancer are not particularly clear at present, but are related to genetics, smoking, obesity, hypertension, and the treatment of hypertension. Most early-stage kidney cancer patients are found to have asymptomatic kidney cancer during health check-ups, and these patients account for more than 50% to 60% of all kidney cancer cases. Patients with kidney cancer generally experience back pain and hematuria, and some patients may present with an abdominal mass. Stage II kidney cancer is considered early-stage kidney cancer. For the treatment of kidney cancer, a clear diagnosis first requires a CT scan and enhanced CT of the kidney. The preferred treatment method for stage II kidney cancer is radical nephrectomy, which can be performed using laparoscopic surgery or traditional open surgery, with laparoscopic surgery primarily favored at present. After kidney cancer surgery, regular follow-ups are necessary to prevent distant metastasis. Therefore, post-operative check-ups should occur every 3 to 6 months for the first three years, followed by an annual follow-up thereafter. Hence, stage II kidney cancer, being early-stage, can be cured.

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Written by Li Liu Sheng
Nephrology
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What are the symptoms of kidney cancer metastasis to the lungs?

Kidney cancer tumor cells are particularly prone to metastasis, with the lungs being one of the common sites for metastases. Once lung metastasis occurs in patients with kidney cancer, numerous symptoms can appear. Typical symptoms include coughing, scanty sputum, severe irritating dry cough, palpitations, chest tightness, shortness of breath, and even chest pain, as well as coughing up blood or severe hemoptysis. Therefore, patients with lung metastases from kidney cancer who exhibit these symptoms should seek medical attention promptly and undergo a lung CT scan. Additionally, patients may experience an increase in body temperature, fevers, weight loss, dizziness, anemia, and particularly fatigue. There may also be a loss of appetite and a general feeling of weakness, which should draw the patients' attention.