October 15, 2012

Caring for Kidney Cancer


To plan the best treatment, doctors need to know the stage (extent) of disease. Staging is based on tumor size, whether the cancer has spread and, if so, to what parts of the body.
Staging may involve imaging tests (imaging) such as an ultrasound scan or a CT scan. The doctor also may use an MRI. For this test, a powerful magnet linked to a computer makes detailed pictures of organs and blood vessels.

Doctors describe kidney cancer by the following stages:

• Stage I is an early stage of kidney cancer. Tumors measuring up to 2 3 / 4 inches (7 centimeters). He is no bigger than a tennis ball. Cancer cells are found only in the kidney.

• Stage II is also an early stage of kidney cancer, but tumors measuring more than 2 3 / 4 inches. Cancer cells are found only in the kidney.

• Stage III is one of the following: The tumor does not extend beyond the kidney, but cancer cells have spread through the lymphatic system to an adjacent lymph node, or the tumor has invaded the adrenal gland or the layers of fat and fibrous tissue surrounding the kidney, but cancer cells are not spread beyond the fibrous tissue. Cancer cells may be found in one nearby lymph node; or cancer cells have spread from the kidney into a large blood vessels adjacent. Cancer cells may be found in one nearby lymph node.

• Stage IV is one of the following: Tumr extends beyond the fibrous tissue surrounding the kidney; or cancer cells are found in more than one nearby lymph node, or the cancer has spread to other places in the body such as the lungs.

• recurrent cancer is cancer that has come back (recur) after treatment. He may return in the kidney or in other parts of the body.

Care

Many people with kidney cancer want to take an active part in making decisions about their medical care. They want to learn all they can about their disease and their treatment choices. However, shock and stress after the diagnosis can make it difficult to think of everything that they want to ask the doctor. It is often helpful to make a list of questions before an appointment. To help remember what the doctor says, people may take notes or ask whether they may use a tape recorder. Some also want to have a family member or friend with them when they talk with the doctor - to take part in the discussion, to take notes, or just listen.

Physicians may refer patients to a specialist, or patients may ask for a referral. Specialists who treat kidney cancer include doctors who specialize in diseases of the urinary system (urologists) and doctors who specialize in cancer (medical oncologists and radiation oncologists).


Getting a second opinion


Before starting treatment, people with kidney cancer may want a second opinion about diagnosis and treatment plan. Some insurance companies require a second opinion; others may complete a second opinion if the patient or doctor requests it.

There are a number of ways to find a doctor for a second opinion:

• Your doctor may refer patients to one or more patient specialists. At cancer centers, several specialists often work together as a team.

• Cancer Information Service at 1-800-4-CANCER, can tell callers about the caller-care centers are adjacent.

• A local or state medical society, a nearby hospital, or a medical school can usually provide the names of specialists.

• American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) offers a list of doctors who have met the demands of specific education and training and have passed an exam kespesialisan. User guide (directory) they - Official ABMS Directory of Board Certified Medical Specialists - register the names of doctors along with kespesialisan them and their educational background. User guide (directory) is available at most public libraries. Also, ABMS offers this information by telephone and the Internet. Toll-free telephone number is 1-866-ASK-ABMS (1-866-275-2267). Internet address is http://www.abms.org.

• NCI provides a helpful fact sheet about how find a doctor called "How to find a doctor or treatment facility if you have cancer". He is available on the Internet at http://cancer.gov/publications.

Preparation for treatment

Treatment depends mainly on the stage of disease and general health and age of the patient. The doctor can describe treatment choices and discuss the results expected. Physicians and patients can work together to develop a treatment plan that matches the patient's purposes.
People do not need to ask all their questions or understand all of the answers promptly. They will have other opportunities to ask the doctor to explain things that are not clear and to ask for more information.
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Caring for Kidney Cancer


To plan the best treatment, doctors need to know the stage (extent) of disease. Staging is based on tumor size, whether the cancer has spread and, if so, to what parts of the body.
Staging may involve imaging tests (imaging) such as an ultrasound scan or a CT scan. The doctor also may use an MRI. For this test, a powerful magnet linked to a computer makes detailed pictures of organs and blood vessels.

Doctors describe kidney cancer by the following stages:

• Stage I is an early stage of kidney cancer. Tumors measuring up to 2 3 / 4 inches (7 centimeters). He is no bigger than a tennis ball. Cancer cells are found only in the kidney.

• Stage II is also an early stage of kidney cancer, but tumors measuring more than 2 3 / 4 inches. Cancer cells are found only in the kidney.

• Stage III is one of the following: The tumor does not extend beyond the kidney, but cancer cells have spread through the lymphatic system to an adjacent lymph node, or the tumor has invaded the adrenal gland or the layers of fat and fibrous tissue surrounding the kidney, but cancer cells are not spread beyond the fibrous tissue. Cancer cells may be found in one nearby lymph node; or cancer cells have spread from the kidney into a large blood vessels adjacent. Cancer cells may be found in one nearby lymph node.

• Stage IV is one of the following: Tumr extends beyond the fibrous tissue surrounding the kidney; or cancer cells are found in more than one nearby lymph node, or the cancer has spread to other places in the body such as the lungs.

• recurrent cancer is cancer that has come back (recur) after treatment. He may return in the kidney or in other parts of the body.

Care

Many people with kidney cancer want to take an active part in making decisions about their medical care. They want to learn all they can about their disease and their treatment choices. However, shock and stress after the diagnosis can make it difficult to think of everything that they want to ask the doctor. It is often helpful to make a list of questions before an appointment. To help remember what the doctor says, people may take notes or ask whether they may use a tape recorder. Some also want to have a family member or friend with them when they talk with the doctor - to take part in the discussion, to take notes, or just listen.

Physicians may refer patients to a specialist, or patients may ask for a referral. Specialists who treat kidney cancer include doctors who specialize in diseases of the urinary system (urologists) and doctors who specialize in cancer (medical oncologists and radiation oncologists).


Getting a second opinion


Before starting treatment, people with kidney cancer may want a second opinion about diagnosis and treatment plan. Some insurance companies require a second opinion; others may complete a second opinion if the patient or doctor requests it.

There are a number of ways to find a doctor for a second opinion:

• Your doctor may refer patients to one or more patient specialists. At cancer centers, several specialists often work together as a team.

• Cancer Information Service at 1-800-4-CANCER, can tell callers about the caller-care centers are adjacent.

• A local or state medical society, a nearby hospital, or a medical school can usually provide the names of specialists.

• American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) offers a list of doctors who have met the demands of specific education and training and have passed an exam kespesialisan. User guide (directory) they - Official ABMS Directory of Board Certified Medical Specialists - register the names of doctors along with kespesialisan them and their educational background. User guide (directory) is available at most public libraries. Also, ABMS offers this information by telephone and the Internet. Toll-free telephone number is 1-866-ASK-ABMS (1-866-275-2267). Internet address is http://www.abms.org.

• NCI provides a helpful fact sheet about how find a doctor called "How to find a doctor or treatment facility if you have cancer". He is available on the Internet at http://cancer.gov/publications.

Preparation for treatment

Treatment depends mainly on the stage of disease and general health and age of the patient. The doctor can describe treatment choices and discuss the results expected. Physicians and patients can work together to develop a treatment plan that matches the patient's purposes.
People do not need to ask all their questions or understand all of the answers promptly. They will have other opportunities to ask the doctor to explain things that are not clear and to ask for more information.