| Here is the first part of top 10 questions people | | | | stage kidney cancer? |
| frequently asked about kidney cancer, I | | | | As we mentioned in question 1, no two people |
| collected these questions from the Internet, such | | | | are exactly alike, treatment and responses to |
| as Ask.com, YAHOO answers and other | | | | treatment vary greatly. |
| professional cancer websites and forums, then | | | | After the cancer is found and staged, your |
| chose top 10 from them by asking frequency, | | | | doctor will discuss your treatment options with |
| and give these questions the best answers. This is | | | | you. It is important to take time and think about |
| a preview edition, lots of information is not | | | | your possible choices. The factors need to be |
| included, see full text on my site. | | | | considered such as the type of kidney cancer |
| Here is PART 1. (Top 4 questions) | | | | (mostly clear cell RCC), stage (stage4, metastasis |
| Q1. How long does an advanced kidney cancer | | | | in more than 1 regional lymph node or distant |
| patient have? Or How long does someone with | | | | metastasis) and tumor size and location, age and |
| stage 4 Renal cell carcinoma have? | | | | general health state. |
| This is the most frequently asked question about | | | | Your treatment options may include surgery, |
| kidney cancer, people always need to know how | | | | radiation therapy, chemotherapy, targeted cancer |
| long they can stay with their family, their loved | | | | therapy, biologic therapy, hormone therapy or |
| ones. However, there is not a simple answer for | | | | some combinations of these. |
| this question, because the situations vary from | | | | A surgery should be considered first, it is the initial |
| patient to patient. | | | | treatment commonly used in with renal cell |
| First of all, let’s take a look at the official | | | | carcinoma patients. The surgery that either |
| 5-years survival rate. Generally, if the cancer | | | | removes parts of the kidney, or the entire kidney |
| is diagnosed at stage 1, the prognosis is good | | | | is called nephrectomy. However, numbers of |
| because a complete surgical resection of the | | | | patients with advanced kidney cancer cannot |
| cancerous growth is possible, the 5-years survival | | | | have surgery, if you cannot have surgery, you |
| rate is 90%. The 5-years survival rate for stage | | | | may benefit from other local treatments such as |
| 2 is 65 – 75%. At stage 3 the kidney cancer | | | | cryoablation, radiofrequency ablation, or arterial |
| 5-years survival rate drops to 40 – 70% | | | | embolization. Otherwise, treatment with one of |
| because the cancer would have spread to the | | | | the targeted therapies would probably be the first |
| nearby lymph nodes. At stage 4, the overall 5 | | | | option. Sunitinib (Sutent), sorafenib (Nexavar), |
| year survival rate is barely 10%. (Also see this | | | | everolimus (Affinitor), temsirolimus (Torisel), and |
| simplified RCC staging form) If you still want to | | | | bevacizumab (Avastin) are some of the latest |
| ask exactly how long does a particular kidney | | | | targeted cancer drugs, and they are FDA |
| cancer patient have, please also consider the | | | | approved. |
| following factors, such as the general health state | | | | Chemotherapy is not a standard treatment for |
| of the patient, patient’s emotional and spiritual | | | | the commonest type of kidney cancer – renal |
| strength, how fast does the cancer grow and | | | | cell carcinoma. It is not as good at treating |
| patient’s treatment (see treatment options). | | | | kidney cancer as some other treatments such as |
| All of these factors make the survival rate vary | | | | biological treatments. As well as radiation therapy, |
| from patient to patient. | | | | but radiation can be a neoadjuvant treatment to |
| There are 4 most important factors in extending | | | | shrink tumour before surgery. |
| life for advanced kidney cancer patients you may | | | | In considering your treatment options it is often a |
| want to see. | | | | good idea to seek a second opinion, if possible. |
| | | | | |
| Q2. How to relieve pain for an advanced kidney | | | | Q4. What should I know about diet and nutrition if |
| cancer patient? | | | | I have kidney cancer? |
| The pain of advanced kidney cancer is hard to | | | | People who were diagnosed kidney cancer should |
| tolerate. Cancer pain is caused by the tumour | | | | receive specialized nutritional advice from doctor |
| pressing on bones, nerves or other organs in your | | | | or a trained professional. |
| body in most cases. To relieve symptom, the | | | | There are a few principles you need to follow: |
| ideal way is to remove the source of the pain, | | | | If you smoke, you really should try to stop. |
| for example, through surgery, chemotherapy, | | | | Smoking has been linked to many cancers, |
| radiation (3D Conformal Radiotherapy (3D-CRT). | | | | including kidney cancer. As well as alcoholic drink, |
| Research shows that combination of radiotherapy | | | | heavy drinking will cause kidney damage |
| and other therapies (such as targeted therapy) | | | | eventually. |
| can do a better job.). If that cannot be done, pain | | | | A high protein diet has been linked to kidney |
| medications can usually control the pain. Strong | | | | disease, including cancer, most protein-rich foods |
| opioid medications for advanced renal cell | | | | are also rich in animal fats, eating a diet lower in |
| carcinoma includes: morphine, oxycodone, | | | | protein may help you to maintain a healthy weight |
| hydromorphone, fentanyl or methadone, but | | | | too. To eat more healthily, try to increase your |
| these pain medications have many risks. As I said | | | | intake of fresh fruit and vegetables and not eat |
| in another SUTENT side effects post (you can | | | | so much protein. Avoid any foods with high purine, |
| find it on my site), read the instruction books or | | | | high fat, such as pork liver. Avoid Processed |
| official websites first before whatever you are | | | | Meats. |
| going to take. | | | | Try to cut down on the amount of salt you add |
| Specialized treatment, such as nerve blocks, also | | | | to your food. A high salt intake puts a strain on |
| may be applicable. Nerve blocks are a local | | | | the kidneys (it is not good for your heart either). |
| anesthetic that is injected around or into a nerve, | | | | Do not eat only one or few kinds of food you |
| which prevents pain messages traveling along that | | | | particularly like. Eat various foods every meal. |
| nerve pathway from reaching the brain. Other | | | | Do not take supplements unless your doctor asks |
| therapies, such as acupuncture, acupressure, | | | | you to. In fact, with kidney cancer, high-dose |
| massage, physical therapy, relaxation, meditation | | | | supplements could do more harm than good. |
| and humor, may help as well. | | | | The recommendations in this publication can also |
| | | | | reduce the risk of other chronic diseases such as |
| Q3. What is the best treatment option for late | | | | heart disease and diabetes. |