Introduction

Let’s talk about the kidneys first. They act like your body's filtration system, purifying your blood and maintaining balance. The kidney has two main parts: the glomerulus and the renal tubule. The glomerulus acts like a tiny filter, removing waste products and excess fluid from the blood. The renal tubules are responsible for sifting through these fluids which the body needs, and finally forming urine to excrete waste products from the body, just like after you throw away the garbage, the staff at the garbage collection site will pick out the recyclable parts and finally destroy the non-recyclable garbage. This process helps maintain balance in our bodies. Now, renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is a kidney cancer that occurs when something goes wrong with the cleanup crew.

 

What is renal cell carcinoma?

As we all know, cancer is the uncontrolled growth of cells. Likewise, kidney cancer is a disease in which kidney cells begin to grow uncontrollably. If you think of the previous cleansing ability of the kidneys as having a team of workers cleaning up these waste products in the body, sometimes some of them rebel and start multiplying more than they should, causing trouble.

 

Symptoms and signs

How do you know something is wrong? Look out for these symptoms:

• Blood in urine

• Abdominal mass

• Persistent side pain

• Loss of appetite

• Anemia

These symptoms indicate that the disease may be occurring and has already caused certain negative effects on the body. If you think you have similar symptoms, please don’t panic. Seeking medical advice as soon as possible is the best option.

 

Who is at risk?

There are certain factors that increase the likelihood of kidney cells losing control, called "risk factors." The following events are risk factors for renal cell carcinoma:

• Overweight

• Smoking 

• Chronic abuse of painkillers

• Hypertension

• Family history of renal cell carcinoma

• Certain genetic disorders (e.g. von Hippel-Lindau disease, hereditary papillary renal cell carcinoma)

Although everyone may have certain risk factors, this cannot be generalized. People with risk factors may not get the disease, and people without risk factors may also get the disease. If you think you may be at risk, talk to your doctor.

 

Stages of renal cell carcinoma:

Understanding the stage of the disease is crucial to planning effective treatment. Renal cell carcinoma is divided into four stages:

Stage I: Tumor diameter ≤7 cm.

Stage II: Tumor >7 cm, still within the kidney

Stage III: Cancer spreads to nearby lymph nodes or surrounding structures

Stage IV: The cancer has spread beyond the kidneys and into other parts of the body

 

Diagnosis and treatment

If rebel cells are suspected, doctors will take a closer look using tests such as CT scans. Treatment depends on how much trouble these cells are causing. Common treatments include surgery (partial, simple or radical nephrectomy), radiation therapy, chemotherapy, immunotherapy and targeted therapy.

• Immunotherapy

Immunotherapy boosts the body's natural defenses against cancer. Chemical "checkpoint inhibitors," such as CTLA-4 and PD-1 inhibitors, could give the immune system a more powerful weapon to attack cancer cells. In addition, substances such as interferon and interleukin 2 help slow down the growth of cancer cells, acting as fuel for the immune system.

• Targeted therapy

Targeted therapy can identify specific cancer cells. Cancer cells also require the delivery of nutrients to gain energy to grow, which relies on blood vessels. Targeted therapy drugs, "VEGF" and "mTOR inhibitors", prevent the formation of blood vessels in tumors, thereby achieving the effect of "starving" cancer.

 

Prevention and Awareness

While we cannot guarantee complete prevention, maintaining a healthy lifestyle and avoiding the risk factors listed previously can help reduce the risk. Regular check-ups can serve as a preventive measure and catch any symptoms of potential disease early.

 

Conclusion

Renal cell carcinoma may sound complicated, but at its core, it's like a rebellion in the kidney's workforce. Understanding these signs can help us stop blindly fearing these diseases. Taking steps to achieve a healthy lifestyle is fundamental to maintaining good health and living a happy life with your family. If you have any questions or ideas, please leave a message!

 

References

[1] National Cancer Institute. 2019. Renal Cell Cancer Treatment. National Cancer Institute. https://www.cancer.gov/types/kidney/patient/kidney-treatment-pdq.

[2] Mayo Clinic. 2018. Kidney cancer - Symptoms and causes. Mayo Clinic. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/kidney-cancer/symptoms-causes/syc-20352664.