Renal carcinoma is a variation of kidney cancer and clear cell renal carcinoma prognosis can be good if the condition is discovered early enough. Around seventy percent of patients diagnosed with this form of cancer will recover unless the carcinoma has spread. This form of kidney cancer is the most common form found in adults. Most frequently this condition is found in men between the ages of fifty and seventy. A person’s kidney has many tiny tubes in which the cancer originates. From this beginning, the cancer is capable of spreading to the lungs, lymph nodes, and many other areas of the body.

While the exact cause of renal carcinoma has not been determined, various risk factors may increase the likelihood of a patient contracting this disease. Some common risk factors include the following conditions: genetic or family history of the condition, smoking tobacco products, dialysis, and Von Hippel-Lindau disease. To lower the chances of a patient contracting this cancer, behavioral modifications such as the cessation of smoking tobacco products should be considered.

A wide range of symptoms can be present with renal carcinoma depending on which areas of the body have been affected. The following symptoms occur when the cancerous cells are limited to a patient’s kidneys: back and abdominal pain, darkened or bloody urine, varicocele, abdominal bloating, unplanned weight loss, flank pain, and a malnourished or emaciated appearance. In addition, symptoms of a carcinoma that has spread may include constipation, pronounced hair growth in women, vision impairments, paleness, and an intolerance of cold temperatures. If a patient discovers blood in the urine, a local physician should be contacted immediately to evaluate the patient. To test for renal cell carcinoma, a doctor will most likely use a battery of tests including blood testing, CT scans, ultrasounds, liver function tests, renal arteriography, and urinalysis. Also, an MRI or chest x-ray may be done to determine if the cancerous cells have spread to other regions of the body.

Renal cell carcinoma treatment options are currently limited and most patients will require a surgical operation to remove either part of the kidney or the entire organ. If the cancer has spread, the lymph nodes, bladder, or surrounding tissue may also need to be removed. The condition is not considered cured unless all instances of the cancerous cells have been removed. While other types of cancer may respond well to chemotherapy or radiation therapy, cancer of the kidneys is not effectively treated with these options. However, it has been discovered that hormone treatments can stifle the tumor’s growth. Future treatments of renal cell carcinoma are presently being researched and may include medications such as Sutent, Nexavar, and Torisel.

Once the condition has spread to other parts of the body, it can lead to complications and the survival rate is much less in patients who have metastatic renal cell carcinoma papilary. These complications include a higher blood pressure, calcium levels, and red blood cells and may include impairment of liver function. Those patients who have experienced metastatic renal cell carcinoma papilary may have reduced chances of survival, but those patients who are able to catch the condition early can expect a clear cell renal carcinoma prognosis that is positive.