Kidney cancer has four stages, with stages one and two being the easiest to treat as the cancer is isolated to the kidney. Stage three involves the surrounding tissue or lymph nodes, while stage four is the most dangerous as it can spread to other organs. Treatment options include surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, and clinical trials.
Kidney cancer is a serious, life-threatening medical condition in which abnormal cancer cells grow and multiply in one or both kidneys, sometimes spreading to other areas of the body. There are four basic stages of kidney cancer, and determining the stage is critical when deciding the most appropriate treatment options. In stages one and two, the cancer is isolated to the kidney itself. Stages three and four of kidney cancer involve the kidney, surrounding tissue or lymph nodes, and can even spread to other organs throughout the body.
The earliest stages of kidney cancer are stages one and two. In the first stage, the tumor is no bigger than a tennis ball, about three inches. There are no cancer cells found outside the affected kidney. Stage two is similar, except the tumor is three inches larger. The tumor is still only found within the kidney itself. These stages of kidney cancer are the easiest to treat, and surgery to remove the tumors is often all that is needed.
Stage three is one of the more complicated stages of kidney cancer. In some cases, the cancerous tumor is still confined to the kidney, although some cancer cells may have made their way into the surrounding lymph glands. In other cases, the tumor can spread to the nearby adrenal gland and can also be found in a lymph gland. Another possible scenario with stage three kidney cancer is that the cancer spreads from the kidney into one of the large blood vessels, often affecting a lymph node as well.
Stage four is the most dangerous of all stages of kidney cancer. At this stage, the cancer can move through the kidney and into the fibrous tissue surrounding the kidney. It is also possible for the cancer to move to several surrounding lymph nodes instead of just one lymph node. In severe cases, the cancer can spread to other organs in the body.
Each of the stages of kidney cancer requires individualized treatment. The most common types of treatment include surgery, radiation and chemotherapy. Some patients may benefit from clinical trials where new, experimental drugs are used in an attempt to treat the disease. Any questions or concerns about the various stages of kidney cancer or the most appropriate treatment options in an individual situation should be discussed with a doctor or other medical professional.
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