Staging To plan the best treatment, the doctor needs to know the stage (extent) of the disease. The stage is based on the size of the tumor, whether the cancer has spread and, if so, to what parts of the body. Staging may involve imaging tests such as an ultrasound or a CT scan. The doctor also may use an MRI. For this test, a powerful magnet linked to a computer makes detailed pictures of organs and blood vessels. Doctors describe kidney cancer by the following stages: Stage I is an early stage of kidney cancer. The tumor measures up to 2 3/4 inches (7 centimeters). It is no bigger than a tennis ball. The cancer cells are found only in the kidney. Stage II is also an early stage of kidney cancer, but the tumor measures more than 2 3/4 inches. The cancer cells are found only in the kidney. Stage III is one of the following: The tumor does not extend beyond the kidney, but cancer cells have spread through the lymphatic system to one nearby lymph node; or The tumor has invaded the adrenal gland or the layers of fat and fibrous tissue that surround the kidney, but cancer cells have not spread beyond the fibrous tissue. Cancer cells may be found in one nearby lymph node; or The cancer cells have spread from the kidney to a nearby large blood vessel. Cancer cells may be found in one nearby lymph node. Stage IV is one of the following: The tumor extends beyond the fibrous tissue that surrounds the kidney; or Cancer cells are found in more than one nearby lymph node; or The cancer has spread to other places in the body such as the lungs. Recurrent cancer is cancer that has come back (recurred) after treatment. It may come back in the kidney or in another part of the body. Treatment Many people with kidney cancer want to take an active part in making decisions about their medical care. They want to learn all they can about their disease and their treatment choices. However, shock and stress after the diagnosis can make it hard to think of everything they want to ask the doctor. It often helps to make a list of questions before an appointment. To help remember what the doctor says, people may take notes or ask whether they may use a tape recorder. Some also want to have a family member or friend with them when they talk to the doctor-to take part in the discussion, to take notes, or just to listen. The doctor may refer the patient to a specialist, or the patient may ask for a referral. Specialists who can give the best treatment removal for kidney cancer include doctors who specialize in diseases of the urinary system (urologists) and doctors who specialize in cancer (medical oncologists and radiation oncologists). Thanks again for taking time and reading, and remember there is always hope. All the best.
Posts Tagged ‘kidney’
Metastatic Kidney cancer question………….?
anyone know anyone who has been through this? Just started dating a guy who had a kidney removed because of cancer, but a year or so later found it spread to his lung. Not sure what the prognosis is for this, but he was treated with interlukin-2 whch has seemed to stop the growth. Any one know about this?
Kidney Damage Treatments: Zinc Protects Kidneys From Chemotherapy? Spaghetti Marinara Anyone?
Can zinc really protect against kidney damage? I came across this really interesting study while reading the Journal of Renal Nutrition. It talks about how the humble mineral zinc is showing amazing protective benefits for those undergoing chemotherapy (chemotherapy drug cisplatin). Now it must be said that these studies are being performed currently on rats, but most promising studies all start out on rats and follow on to humans. They found that zinc picolinate (a type of zinc) treatment significantly reduced urea-N, creatinine, and oxidative stress and inflammatory markers. Zinc is an “essential trace element” because tiny quantities of zinc are required for human health. However, it only second to iron (as a mineral) in the total amount present in the body. Zinc is one of the most under-rated minerals in the body (calcium and vitamin C get all the lime light it seems lately) as it is involved in over 200 biochemical processes in the body, and is a powerful antioxidant. Only out done by magnesium which is involved in over 300. Zinc is found in all bodily tissues and therefore lends it self healing many conditions, such as: colds and flus, cuts and wounds, alzheimer’s, dementia, diabetes, acne, AIDS, dandruff, psoriasis, stretch marks, hearing loss, coeliac disease, ulcerative colitis, hair loss, depression, fertility, and on and on it goes… oh, and of course kidney disease. he chemotherapy drug used in the study was Cisplatin, a seriously toxic drug in anyones language which has a history of causing nephrotoxicity (kidney toxicity). The purpose of the present study was to examine the effect of zinc picolinate on cisplatin-induced kidney damage. The study used 28 rats, divided into four groups consisting of 7 rats each: Group 1. control, group 2. zinc picolinate, group 3. cisplatin, and group 4. cisplatin plus zinc picolinate. The fantastic news for you is that results were a clear illustration of the benfits of zinc. Zinc was shown to significantly reduce urea-N, creatinine, malondialdehyde, 8-isoprostane, and tumor necrosis factor-α -α levels (the last three are inflammatory and oxidative stress markers). In each case the zinc group outperformed the non zinc group. Group 2 outperformed group 1, and group 4 outperformed group 3. This means that zinc is one of the best minerals that can provide a kidney damage cure or kidney damage treatments to individuals who suffer from kidney disease. The study came to the conclusion (from the positive evidence) that zinc picolinate clearly decreases the oxidative stress and inflammation in cisplatin-induced kidney damage, and lowers other kidney disease factors such as creatinine and urea. It also important to note that they used a high dose of zinc, administered via injection for 10 days (6mg per kg body weight). Zinc has no known side-effects within the normal dosage range (10-100mg a day) and is an inexpensive treatment, especially compared to the costs of kidney dialysis or kidney replacement. This method is a fantastic way to heal the kidneys and improve your nutritional status. All the while reducing the need and burden of higher funded treatments such as dialysis. So get out there, start enjoying some zinc rich foods: Shelllfish, fish, oysters, popcorn, sesame seeds, sunflower seeds, pepitas, walnuts, almonds, muesli, dhal, wheat germ, tomato sauce and paste (I think some of those foods would make a good spaghetti marinana, don’t you think?). And don’t forget to supplement, eating those foods alone will not provide you enough zinc for the desired benefits. All in all, zinc is one of the best forms of kidney damage treatment that is cost-effective.
Posted in Chemotherapy Recovery 
Tags: Anyone, Chemotherapy, damage, From, kidney, Kidneys, Marinara, Protects, Spaghetti, Treatments, Zinc 
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