2. • Renal cell cancer (also called kidney
cancer or renal adenocarcinoma) is a disease in
which malignant (cancer) cells are found in the
lining of tubules in the kidney.
3. CAUSES AND RISK FACTORS
It's not clear what causes renal cell carcinoma.
• Older age.
The risk of kidney cancer increases as age.
• Smoking.
Smokers have a greater risk of kidney cancer than
nonsmokers do. The risk decreases after quiting.
• Obesity.
People who are obese have a higher risk of kidney
cancer than do people who are considered average
weight.
• High blood pressure (hypertension).
High blood pressure increases the risk of kidney
cancer.
4. • Treatment for kidney failure.
People who receive long-term dialysis to treat
chronic kidney failure have a greater risk of
developing kidney cancer.
• Having a family history of kidney cancer.
The risk is especially high in siblings.
• Being exposed to certain chemicals.
such as asbestos, cadmium, benzene, organic
solvents, or certain herbicides
5. • Being black.
The risk in blacks is slightly higher than in
whites. No one knows why.
• Having lymphoma
For an unknown reason, there is an
increased risk of kidney cancer in patients with
lymphoma.
6. STAGING OF RENAL CANCER
• Stage I.
At this stage, the tumor can be up to 2.75
inches (7 centimeters) in diameter. The tumor is
confined to the kidney.
• Stage II.
A stage II kidney cancer is larger than a
stage I tumor, but it's still confined to the kidney.
7. • Stage III.
At this stage, the tumor extends beyond
the kidney to the surrounding tissue and may
also have spread to a nearby lymph node.
• Stage IV.
Cancer spreads outside the kidney, to
multiple lymph nodes or to distant parts of the
body, such as the bones, liver or lungs.
8. SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS
• Blood in your urine
• A lump in your side or abdomen
• A loss of appetite
• A pain in your side that doesn't go away
• Weight loss that occurs for no known reason
• Fever that lasts for weeks and isn't caused by
a cold or other infection
9. • Extreme fatigue
• Anemia
• Swelling in your ankles or legs
Kidney cancer that spreads to other parts of
the body may cause other symptoms, such as:
• Shortness of breath
• Coughing up blood
• Bone pain
10. Tests and diagnosis
• Blood and urine tests.
Tests the blood and urine may give clues
about what's causing signs and symptoms.
• Imaging tests.
Imaging tests allow the doctor to visualize
a kidney tumor or abnormality. Imaging tests
might include ultrasound, computerized
tomography (CT) scan or magnetic resonance
imaging (MRI).
11. • Removing a sample of kidney tissue (biopsy).
In rare cases, the doctor may
recommend a procedure to remove a small
sample of cells (biopsy) from a suspicious area
of kidney. The sample is tested in a lab to look
for signs of cancer.
12. • Intravenous pyelogram (IVP)
involves X-raying the kidneys after the
doctor injects a dye that travels to the urinary
tract, highlighting any tumors.
13. SURGERY
Surgery is the standard of care for the majority
of kidney cancers. Surgical procedures used to
treat kidney cancer include:
• Radical nephrectomy
it removes the kidney, adrenal gland, and
surrounding tissue. It also often removes nearby
lymph nodes. It is the most common surgery for
kidney cancer and can now be done through a
small incision with a laparoscope.
14. • Simple nephrectomy
removes the kidney only.
• Partial nephrectomy
removes the cancer in the kidney along
with some tissue around it. This procedure is
used for patients with smaller tumors (less than
4 cm) or in those patients in which a radical
nephrectomy might hurt the other kidney.
15. If surgery can't remove your kidney cancer, your
doctor may suggest another option to help destroy
the tumor.
• Cryotherapy
uses extreme cold to kill the tumor.
• Radiofrequency ablation
uses high-energy radio waves to "cook" the
tumor.
• Arterial embolization
involves inserting material into an artery that
leads to the kidney. This blocks blood flow to the
tumor. This procedure may be done to help shrink
the tumor before surgery.
16. Radiation therapy
• Often used to help with symptoms of kidney
cancer or in patients who cannot have surgery,
this treatment uses high-energy X-rays or other
types of radiation to kill cancer cells or halt
their growth.
• External radiation therapy sends radiation to
the cancer from a machine outside the body.
18. Prevention
• Quit smoking.
If you smoke, quit. Many options for
quitting exist, including support programs,
medications and nicotine replacement products.
19. • Maintain a healthy weight.
Work to maintain a healthy weight. If
you're overweight or obese, reduce the number
of calories you consume each day and try to
exercise most days of the week. Ask your doctor
about other healthy strategies to help you lose
weight.
20. • Control high blood pressure.
Ask the doctor to check your blood
pressure at your next appointment.
Lifestyle measures such as exercise, weight
loss and diet changes can help.
Some people may need to add
medications to lower their blood pressure.
21. NURSING MANAGEMENT
• Administer prescribed analgesics as needed by
the patient.
• Prepare for nephrectomy as indicated.
• Provide symptomatic treatment for adverse
effects of chemotherapeutic drugs.
• Watch the patient for signs and symptoms of
pulmonary, neurologic, and liver dysfunction.
• Monitor laboratory test results for anemia,
polycythemia, and abnormal blood chemistry.
22. • Watch for adverse effects of radiation or
chemotherapy.
• Monitor the patient’s degree of pain and
assess the effectiveness of analgesics.
• Tell the patient what to expect from surgery
and other treatments.
• Explain the possible effects of radiation and
drug therapy.
23. • Stress the importance of compliance with any
prescribed outpatient treatment.
• Encourage the patient to express his anxieties
and fears and remain with him during periods
of severe stress and anxiety.
