Kidney cancer more deadly than thought

The number of cases of kidney cancer has been rising over the last two decades due to an increase in the growth of small, presumably curable, kidney masses.

A breakthrough study examined data from 34,503 patients with kidney disease over a period of 20 years. It found a rise in the occurrence of tumors of all sizes, and a significant rise in tumors 4 cm or smaller.

Doctors have responded to this finding by increasing the use of surgery to remove these tumors, but there has not been a corresponding reduction in the number of people dying from kidney disease.

Renal cell cancer (or renal cell carcinoma) is the most common type of kidney cancer. It is a life-threatening tumor found mostly in adults in their 50s and 60s. It affects twice as many men as women.

Kidney cancer can be difficult to diagnose, and many kidney tumors are found when x-rays are taken for other reasons.

Remember: The treatment for kidney cancer depends on how large the tumor is, whether the tumor has spread to other parts of the body, and your overall physical condition. Because the chance for cure the cancer depends on finding the disease early, it is important to have regular medical checkups.

Source: Journal of the National Cancer Institute, Vol.98, No18, 1331-1334, 2006
http://jncicancerspectrum.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/abstract/jnci;98/18/1331