Survival rate after early removal of kidney cancer

Written by Xu Chun Hua
Urology
Updated on September 29, 2024
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The prognosis of renal cancer is closely related to its clinical staging. If it is in the early stages, surgery is the preferred treatment and the prognosis is very good. Timely surgery followed by subsequent treatments such as immunotherapy, targeted therapy, etc., is recommended. For early-stage renal cancer, the five-year survival rate after surgical removal can exceed 90%, and some patients may live without issues for over 20 years. How long someone lives specifically also depends on the individual's constitution and physical condition.

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Written by Zou De Bo
Urology
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Causes of Renal Cancer

The cause of kidney cancer is unknown, but possible factors include: First, smoking, which is a relative risk factor for kidney cancer. Second, obesity and hypertension. Third, occupation, with reports indicating that long-term exposure to metallic lead, print industry workers, coke workers, and workers shows increased risks of incidence and mortality from kidney cancer. Fourth, radiation, where long-term exposure to certain sources of radiation may increase the risk of kidney cancer. Fifth, there is a certain relation to genetics. Sixth, dietary factors, as studies have found that high intake of dairy products, animal protein, and fat, and low intake of fruits and vegetables, are also risk factors for kidney cancer.

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Written by Zou De Bo
Urology
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How many centimeters is kidney cancer in the early stage?

Generally speaking, kidney cancers smaller than 4 centimeters are usually considered early stage, but it still depends on individual circumstances, such as whether the tumor has spread or metastasized, and the malignancy level of the tumor cells. Thus, assessing whether it is early or advanced stage requires consideration of these specific factors, and it cannot be simply determined by size alone.

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Written by Wang Jian
Urology
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Can kidney cancer that has spread to the lungs be cured?

Kidney cancer usually reaches an advanced stage by the time it metastasizes to the lungs, leading to a generally low survival rate. For early and intermediate-stage kidney cancer patients, surgical treatment is typically employed. However, in advanced stages, especially when there are lung metastases, surgical methods are often not suitable. However, if the metastatic foci are small, it is still recommended to remove them surgically. Immunotherapy can be used for lung metastases, such as using interferon or targeted therapy. Targeted therapy tends to be effective, commonly using drugs like sorafenib and sunitinib for first-line or second-line treatment of metastatic kidney cancer. Although a complete cure is not possible, these treatments can significantly prolong the patient's lifespan, improve survival rates, and alleviate symptoms.

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Written by Xu Chun Hua
Urology
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How is kidney cancer diagnosed?

Hematuria, pain, and lumps are the main symptoms of kidney cancer. If one or two of these symptoms appear, the possibility of kidney cancer should be considered. About half of the patients are found to have incidental kidney cancers, also known as asymptomatic kidney cancers, during physical examinations through incidental findings on ultrasound or CT scans. Some may show early symptoms of metastasis making the diagnosis quite challenging. The preoperative diagnosis of kidney cancer relies on the results of medical imaging examinations such as ultrasound, X-rays, and CT scans. CT scans have a very high confirmation rate for kidney cancer and are currently the most reliable imaging method for diagnosing kidney cancer.

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Written by Zou De Bo
Urology
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What are the characteristic symptoms of kidney cancer?

Most kidney cancer patients are discovered during health check-ups, and these patients may account for over 50%-60% of all kidney cancer cases. Among those with symptoms, the most common symptoms are lower back pain and blood in urine. A few patients also present with abdominal masses. 10%-40% of patients can exhibit paraneoplastic syndromes, manifested as high blood pressure, anemia, weight loss, cachexia, fever, abnormal liver function, hyperglycemia, increased erythrocyte sedimentation rate, and other changes. Additionally, symptoms such as bone pain, fractures, cough, and coughing blood can occur due to tumor metastasis.