Kidney Cancer

CLEAR CELL (Hypernepheroma) CARCINOMA: This is a slowly growing tumor that can get large before it is diagnosed. Passing bloody urine is the common presenting sign. Pain in the small of the back may also be a presenting sign. An x-ray will show an enlarged kidney. If the tumor is still localized, surgically removing the kidney may be the curative treatment. If the cancer has spread from the kidney and gone to the lungs or bones, it is more difficult to treat. Chemotherapy has not been very effective in treating this cancer. More recently, Interferon and Interleukin-II have been used to treat this cancer with some success. TRANSITIONAL CARCINOMA: This is a more rapidly growing cancer and tends to spread more quickly to the local lymph nodes, the lungs and the bones. If the cancer is diagnosed early, surgically removing the kidney is appropriate, but, chemotherapy is also needed to try to prevent the cancer from reoccurring.