Clinical Manifestations of Renal Cancer

Written by Wang Shuai
Urology
Updated on March 02, 2025
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In the early stages of kidney cancer, most patients do not experience any discomfort symptoms, making it difficult to detect. As the tumor progresses to the middle and late stages and increases in size, it can cause symptoms of back pain. If the tumor breaches the renal pelvis, leading to ruptured blood vessels, this condition will be accompanied by obvious gross hematuria, which often appears intermittently and is painless. If the tumor is large, a mass can be felt in the back. If these symptoms arise, it is crucial to promptly visit the hospital's urology department for tests such as ultrasound and CT scans to establish a clear diagnosis. If necessary, active surgical intervention should be considered.

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Written by Zeng Zhong
Urology
54sec home-news-image

How long does it take for kidney cancer to progress from early to late stage?

It will likely take about two years. Kidney cancer is a malignant tumor with a relatively high degree of malignancy, and its prognosis is closely related to its specific pathological staging. Therefore, it is not possible to accurately judge this time frame as it relates to individual differences in tumors and the degree of malignancy. Timely detection and standard treatment are crucial. The first choice is surgical treatment, which should be followed by immunotherapy and targeted therapy to prevent and reduce the possibility of postoperative recurrence and metastasis. If controlled effectively, early cure is possible, and the survival period in the middle and late stages can be significantly extended. Early treatment primarily involves surgical operations, which can be complemented by traditional Chinese medicine to reduce the risk of recurrence.

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

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 Wang Jian
Urology
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Treatment Plans for Renal Cancer

The treatment principles for kidney cancer vary depending on the stage of the cancer. For localized or locally advanced kidney cancer, surgical treatment is primarily used. For advanced kidney cancer, a comprehensive medical treatment approach is mainly used. Surgical treatment is typically the first choice for treating kidney cancer and is currently recognized as a curative method. In early stages, kidney-sparing surgery or radical nephrectomy can be performed using either laparoscopic or open surgery. For mid to late-stage kidney cancer patients, radical nephrectomy is commonly performed as an open surgery. For advanced kidney cancer, treatment primarily involves medical management, which may include surgical removal of the affected kidney. Additionally, treatments can be supplemented with immunotherapy or targeted therapy to improve treatment efficacy. Therefore, different stages of kidney cancer require different treatment plans.

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Written by Zou De Bo
Urology
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The typical three major symptoms of kidney cancer

The typical three major symptoms of kidney cancer are hematuria, pain, and a mass. If these three symptoms appear, it generally indicates that the condition has reached an advanced stage, at which point the patient may have missed the optimal timing for treatment. Surgery at this stage may also be challenging to perform completely. Therefore, early detection and treatment are essential. The five-year survival rate after kidney cancer surgery is as high as 97% for many people. Thus, overall, the prognosis for kidney cancer is relatively good. However, the best treatment approach remains surgery, including nephron-sparing surgery and radical nephrectomy, depending on the size of the tumor. Generally, for tumors smaller than four centimeters, nephron-sparing treatment can be adopted.

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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.