How long can someone with kidney cancer and hematuria survive?

Written by Xu Chun Hua
Urology
Updated on September 26, 2024
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A common symptom of kidney cancer is painless visible blood in urine, which is also the primary initial symptom. It is intermittent and sometimes accompanied by blood clots. However, after exhibiting this symptom, how long a patient can live depends on individual constitution and the severity of the condition. Once discovered, early surgical treatment is recommended, followed by immunotherapy, such as using interferons and interleukins.

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Written by Li Yuan Wei
Urology
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Clinical manifestations of renal cancer

The clinical manifestations and staging of kidney cancer are related to the most common early-stage kidney cancer, late-stage kidney cancer, or metastatic kidney cancer. Generally, early-stage kidney cancer exhibits few clinical symptoms and is often detected during physical examinations, through ultrasonography of the urinary tract, or kidney ultrasonography, where tumors are the most commonly found. Additionally, later stages of kidney cancer often present as swelling pain in the waist area or occasional hematuria. More serious conditions involve feeling a mass in the upper abdomen upon palpation, which is a clinical manifestation. Nowadays, with heightened awareness for health checks, such conditions are generally discovered through these examinations. When major clinical manifestations like hematuria and abdominal masses occur, it indicates that the kidney tumor has already progressed to the mid or late stages.

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Written by Xu Chun Hua
Urology
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kidney cancer immunotherapy drugs

The immunotherapy for kidney cancer often involves the use of interferons or interleukins, and the results are generally satisfactory. The effects of radiotherapy and chemotherapy for kidney cancer are not very certain. Typically, after kidney cancer is diagnosed, radical nephrectomy is performed. During the surgery, adequate exposure is essential. The renal hilum should be ligated first to prevent cancer cells from being squeezed into the bloodstream during surgery. It is also necessary to remove the fascia and fat around the kidney, along with the lymph nodes at the renal hilum. Combining these surgical measures with immunotherapy usually yields very ideal results.

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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 Wang Jian
Urology
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Will a stage 1 kidney cancer recurrence occur after nephrectomy?

Stage I kidney cancer generally belongs to early-stage kidney cancer, which usually presents no symptoms and is most often discovered during physical examinations. This is the case for more than 50%-60% of kidney cancers. The examination for kidney cancer also requires a CT scan of the kidney and an enhanced CT scan to confirm the diagnosis. If it is stage I, the cure rate through surgical removal is very high. Surgical operation is the first choice for treating kidney cancer and is recognized as a means to cure kidney cancer. Early-stage kidney cancer can be treated with laparoscopic or traditional open surgery, which involves a radical removal of the kidney. For patients with stage I kidney cancer, the five-year survival rate can reach about 92%. Post-surgery, regular follow-up visits are necessary to check for recurrence, metastasis, and new tumors. After surgery, stage I kidney cancer patients should have follow-up visits every three to six months for the first three years and annually thereafter. Stage I kidney cancer has a chance of being completely cured but also the possibility of recurrence, so regular follow-ups are essential.

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Written by Zhou Qi
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Can renal cancer be detected by ultrasound?

Ultrasound is a type of imaging examination that can observe the size, shape, structure, texture, and the presence of masses in the organs being examined. It can be used to determine if a patient potentially has kidney-related masses, such as differentiating between a kidney cyst and kidney cancer based on differences in shape and blood supply that malignant tumors typically exhibit compared to other conditions. However, using ultrasound to diagnose kidney cancer can be inaccurate, particularly in the early stages of the disease when ultrasound may not provide a clear view, and some complex cases of kidney cancer may still be indeterminate. Therefore, patients might consider undergoing an enhanced CT scan, which offers a higher diagnostic accuracy. Additionally, a kidney biopsy and pathological examination might be necessary for a definitive diagnosis.