Renal Cell Carcinoma

Question: What are the lastest advances in treatments for renal cell carcinoma (stage 3)? My best friend has recently been diagnosed with Renal cell carcinoma. Early diagnosis suggest that the cancer has metastasized and spread to the lymph nodes, but has not spread to any other organs. I am interested to know if anyone knows whom are the worlds experts in renal cell carcinoma (RCC) (both medical and academic experts). Unfortunately we are British and so the only likelyhood of my friend getting the latest drugs is by partaking in a clinical trial (NICE, the body that regulates which drugs are purchased for UK NHS patients generally do not pay out for the latest expensive treatments) . I would like to know therefore is anybody reading this post who is involved in organising/running clinical trials for drugs to treat RCC who might be able to discuss further options. My friend shows otherwise no symptoms at all apart from once urinating blood. He is in otherwise good health and is aged 33.

Answer: I suggest he contact Shands hospital in Houston.

Question: Has anyone had any experience in a cancer treatment called Torisel for Renal Cell Carcinoma? My dad was diagnosed with Stage 4 Renal Cell Carcinoma. He started a treatment this week. The treatment is call Torisel. I wonder if anyone has any experience in this drug. If it worked for your loved one and if there was any side effects and how long did it take to have the side effects.

Answer: I believe this is one of the newer mTOR targeted therapy drugs. It is very new. You would probably get more response and better information by going to an online support group with other patients who are using this drug. Good luck.

Question: Is Renal Cell Carcinoma (kidney cancer) stage 2 disqualifying from joining the military? I have a family member recently diagnosed with Renal Cell Carcinoma (kidney cancer) stage 2. He lost his kidney as a result. Can he still join the military? or should he forget about joining the army? Which branch will take him? He's bilingual (English-Arabic, most dialects of the Middle East). He has a post-college degree. What will the MEPS doctors say?

Answer: Why not look into other federal jobs that would gladly take him as an arabic linguist? There is obviously a large and growing emphasis on recruiting those who speak any of the many arabic dialects at all levels of govt. There are even civilian linguists that work with the military at all levels in translating/transcribing/intelligence etc. CIA, FBI, Homeland Security etc would probably all be possibilities.

Question: What is the survival rate of renal cell carcinoma patients who have had nephrectomy? Diagnosis was renal cell carcinoma. Right kidney was removed with a radical nephrectomy.

Answer: since the affected kidney has already been removed, you have already "upped" your chances of survival. there is now a higher probability of recovering. however, precaution should still be exercised. visit your doctor and have a follow up exam to check wether the surgery was a success and if it was done in time to prevent the spread of the disease. since carcinoma is often caused by too much "bad" carbon in the body, you would do well by not eating "burned meat" that usually happens when cooking in open fire-such as when grilling. good luck!

Question: What's life expec having renal cell carcinoma stage 3-1 yr after having kidney removed & shoulder replaced? My 54yo dad has renal cell carcinoma. He's had his kidney removed (cancerous mass over 50% in 5/06 at stage 3) and his right shoulder replaced in 11/06 (from where cancer spread & broke bone) still has very minimal use of arm. Now the cancer has spread in his lung, around his liver & spleen and either effecting his pancreas or gall bladder. What quality of life will he have (he manages a goodyear store) and what is the typical life expectancy (only good know-but there is an average out there). Please only serious answers or similar experiences. Any referral sites out there would be appreciated. Thanks!

Answer: First I want to express how truly sorry I am to hear about your dad. I am even more sorry that I don't have better news sto share with you, so I am going to preface it with an emphasis that you enjoy your time with your dad and understand that it does not happen over night. You will see a decline in his health so you will be able to prepare a little as the time comes. You might want to check out these associations: www.kidneycancerassociation.org www.kidneycancer.org Many hospitals also have support groups for cancer patients and their families. I encourage you to get involved with one just so you can know more of what to expect and how to cope as things progress. OK, he is really in stage 4 now because it has spread to distant organs. The 5 year survival rate for sttage 4 renal cell carcinoma is about 14%. Those aren't good odds, but at the same time, someone has to be in that 14% in order for it to exist. Traditional chemo & radiation don't work on rcc because the kidney's job is to filter out toxins - which is what those treatments are: toxic. There is immuno-therapy such as interferon and interleukin-2, but they are usually used when the metastasis isn't so far spread. Clinical trials are another option he could discuss with his doctor. Unfortunately, there really are no cut and dry treatments for rcc. My mom was diagnosed with stage 4 renal cell carcinoma in January 1997 and fought it until July 1999 when she was 53, so you see she was a typical case. Her kidney was the size of a football when it wass removed and she had a spot the size of a quarter on her lungs. What to expect: As it progresses, their body becomes weaker and they can feel the tumors growing in their body. My mom would have pillows all around her to counteract the pressure from the tumors. It's sno uncommon for calcium levels to increase, which shows itself in confusion and becoming unsteady or losing balance. It's important to watch for this. It's easily managed through a process similar to donaitng blood, although it's not being donated. Watch for this. With my mom, her head was too heavy in the last 6 months, so she shaved her head and would frequently put it down on the table or wherever she was to rest. She became unsteady in the last couple months. In the last couple weeks, she became dehydrated and constipated, which were uncomfortable. She knew the time was coming and she called my brothers and me home two days before she passed away. I'm not trying to paint a grim picture, but rather help you realistically know what path you have ahead. It's a gradual decline usually over 6 months, once they become more weakened or in pain. There are some things that can be done to help with comfort, but it is usually not entirely taken care of. I don't know if you are a teen or young adult, but it is important either way to have support from others and that your fmily knows what is coming. He should have a durable power of attorney and a will and he should talk to his doctor about hospice care. Does he want to die at home or in the hospital? This is a hard question, for you, I'm sure, but it's an important one. I'm sure he is trying to keep his life as ordinary and normal as he can. If there are things you want to say and do with him, now is the time. Don't wait until he isn't up to it. I am so sorry that you are going through this. I wish no one had to go through it.

Question: Where is the best medical center for treating renal cell carcinoma? What are the latest treatments? in the United States or foreign countries?

Answer: For me, I live in Mass and I think the best medical center for any cancer is Dana Farber cancer institute in Boston. I know they advertise a cancer hospital on TV but I can't remember the name. They are suppose to be good as well. I swear by Boston because of how the helped me and my sister who had stage 4 ovarian cancer with mets to her uterus, cervix, spleen, gall bladder, and parts of her intestines and stomach. She had a total of 5 surgeons working on her and they got all the cancer. That was 5 yrs ago. They didn't think she would live. No one did. But they did it. Then she got brain cancer. twice. Each time they did surgery and she is walking around today. After much chemo and radiation. she is free of cancer. So I am a strong supporter of Dana Farber. in Boston. Do some research Be blessed

Question: How can I start a cancer support group for renal cell carcinoma? Where could we meet? How large of a space would I need? How can I get speakers?

Answer: Do you or someone in your family have renal cell carcinoma? You can contact your city's local hospitals to see if a support group for that type of cancer already exists. If the group does not exist, you can ask to speak with the hospital's community relations director or volunteer director to talk about your interest in starting a support group. But there are guidelines and funding involved b/c you will have to find a room in a hospital to use and may have to pay the hospital to use it, unless you are told otherwise. And your hospitals may have cancer ward or unit that you can check out in person too, to see if there are support groups there and speak with the people or organizations who lead those support groups, to get an idea how you would create one. You would also have to advertise for volunteers to lead the support groups on specific nights, etc.,. Your best bet is to find an existing cancer support group and either do an informational interview with the person in charge, or do research online to start with.

Question: How large is a cyst when it becomes a mass in or on the kidney in renal cell carcinoma? .25cm .43 cm 1.2cm 1.6cm 3.0cm 4.0cm 5.8cm What is the procedure if it is 2.0 or smaller?

Answer: A cyst is benign (not cancer). Carcinoma is malignant (cancer). The only relation they have to each other is they both present as growth of some sort.

Question: Anyone being treated for papillary renal cell carcinoma or renal cell or know someone who has been treated? I lost my 23 year old daughter, 13 months ago to this disease and there are things people should know about this disease that the doctors do not tell you especially your options. I am doing some research and need to know other peoples ups and downs with this disease.

Answer: First of all, please let me offer my condolences to you on the loss of your daughter. That must have been a difficult ordeal, and you are still grieving her passing. I'm not sure what doctors don't tell patients about renal cell carcinoma, but we try to tell the patient as much as he or she wants to know. The cause of renal cell carcinoma is unknown. The tumors may grow for a long time before they are detected. The usual way one is detected is as a result of blood in the urine on repeated urinalyses. Sometimes there may be tumor cells in the urine. When the cause of blood in the urine is sought, an ultrasound examination or a CT scan usually shows the presence of the tumor. These tumors spread by growing through the capsule of the kidney and invading adjacent tissues and organs, and they tend to grow into the renal vein and up the vena cava toward the heart. I have several patients who have had renal cell carcinoma, and I believe most of them are doing well. One unfortunate patient of mine had a nephrectomy for a renal cell carcinoma, and several years later, developed a second renal cell carcinoma in the opposite kidney. He was treated with a partial nephrectomy on the second side, and has lately been doing well with no evidence of further tumor involvement. So whatever causes a renal cell carcinoma on one side may also affect the other side. Another name for these tumors is hypernephroma. There is extensive information about kidney tumors in medical textbooks. A rare type of renal tumor that affects children is a Wilm's tumor, and these can actually be cured with early detection and proper treatment. Wilm's tumors and renal cell carcinomas are different and should not be confused. I hope I have given you some of the information you need. If you have further questions, you are welcome to contact me.

Question: How long can a person live with renal cell carcinoma (matastatic)? My husband is currently in the Beth Israel Deaconess Med Ctr in Boston having his 2nd week of Interleukin 2. His right kidney was removed 6/5 after having hematuria on 5/15 and being diagnosed the same day. He had no other symptoms. He just turned 50. There are small tumors in the lungs and a very small one in the muscle bed of the removed kidney (which they either didn't catch or see, or subsequently popped up, we don't know which). We have a 7 year old son and I need to know all I can for my son and myself, our future as a family, etc. Any information would be greatly appreciated. We met a man with the same disease who is 6 years out of his surgery. It gave me some hope but I know that everyone is different. Thank you.

Answer: Wow...first let me just say that I'm very sorry that you're having to go though this. Secondly; As much as you'd like an answer right now, I would recommend talking to his doctors. Without a lot of very detailed case information, it's difficult (if not impossible) to make a determination of life expectancy.

Question: How long does someone with stage 4 Renal cell carcinoma have? My grandfather, 83, has stage 4 renal cell carcinoma. The cancer has spread to his lungs (several tumors on lungs), bladder, gall bladder, and the doctor said he could feel tumors all over. I just want a realistic outlook for his life expectancy. He will be receiving immunotherapy in a few weeks but his general practice doctor seemed to think he had weeks to a few months to live. His oncologist didn't give him a time frame. I just want to know what he is looking at. He already is having trouble breathing.

Answer: No one knows.My wife has stage IV renal cell carcinoma and no one thought she would make it one year.It been a tough road, but shes still here 5 years 5 months latter.

Question: Renal Cell Carcinoma (Kidney Cancer); Please share your experience or knowledge.? My mother in law has renal cell carcinoma. I am just interested in others who have either experienced this type of cancer or know someone who has. If you're willing to share your experience, I would really appreciate it. :) She is maybe 10lbs overweight, never smoked, rarely drinks, exercises and eats pretty healthy. FYI.

Answer: I was diagnose with RCC in June of 2000. I was diagnosed with metastatic RCC in October of 2001. I have been fighting ever since. For many who are stage 1, 85% are cured by radical nephrectomy, either open or laproscopic sugery. For metastatic disease, there are many modalities of treatment. Bone Marrow transplant if a suitable donor can be found (sister or brother), Alpha Interferon and Interleukin II, RF ablation, Embolization, Cyberknife, Angiogenesis inhibitors, are all therapies I have been on or tried to be on at one point or another. They all have their own list of side effects and they are different for different people. I have not yet exhausted all the treatment types available. I still work full time and while I am slowed down a little, I appreciate what I have more and take things less for granted.

Question: What is the cure for renal cell carcinoma? What is recommended if it comes back after surgery?

Answer: surgical removal of affected kidney. Obviously it's not good if it comes back but you also have a chance of being cured if the cancer is caught early. If Alonzo Mourning can play pro basketball with one kidney you can be sure most people can survive just fine with only one kidney. http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/…

Question: What is a prognosis for Stage IV Renal Cell Carcinoma? 56 yr old, female, one kidney removed ,did prolukin trial, prolukin destroyed gallbladder, was removed, metastecies in liver,stomach, blood, bones

Answer: Scroll down to the section on Prognosis. http://www.emedicine.com/med/topic2002.h… good luck to your friend

Question: What causes Renal Cell Carcinoma? What can be done for it? Can it be cured if the tumor is less? than 6 cm and has not spread to other organs?

Answer: Renal Cell Carcinoma is a cancer of the kidneys that has no specific etiology. High risk behavior such as smoking and exposure to radiation can always be associated with cancer development, but for the most part it is idiopathic (meaning we don't really know what causes it). We know that it manifests as a consequence of certain genetic abnormalities, and in some individuals who have a family history of polycystic kidney disease, kidney cancer may occur more frequently. The standard of care for the treatment of this disease is surgery, or radical nephrectomy. If the cancer can be removed in its entirety and has not spread beyond the kidney, cure is possible. While the smaller the cancer is, the less likely it is to recur, kidney cancer can have a tendency to metastasize to other organs such as the lung, liver, bone. If it has spread beyond the kidney and cannot be removed completely, RCC doesn't traditionally respond to chemotherapy well, and only chemobiotherapy has shown to work. However, in the past year, FDA has approved a couple new drugs, they are medicine specifically targeting certain molecular abnormalities of RCC. These have changed the outlook of patients with advanced RCC completely.

Question: How does one do that has renal cell carcinoma, diabetic and has three leaking heart valves?

Answer: I agree the first answer that prayer would really help. sounds pretty bad. It seems diabetes always complicates any situation.