what are the Expectations of survival(prognosis)?
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Sometimes both kidneys are involved. The cancer spreads easily, most often to the lungs and other organs. In about one-third of patients, the cancer has already spread (metastasized) at the time of diagnosis.
How well a patient does depends on how much the cancer has spread and how well treatment works. The survival rate is highest if the tumor is in the early stages and has not spread outside the kidney. If it has spread to the lymph nodes or to other organs, the survival rate is much lower.
Renal cell carcinoma (RCC)is the most common type of kidney cancer. RCC begins small and grows larger over time, like many other cancers. Based on limited observations, renal cancers appear to grow approximately 1 cm (1/2 inch) in diameter per year. RCC usually grows as a single mass. Sometimes, a kidney may contain more than one tumor or tumors may be found in both kidneys at the same time.
How well a patient does depends on how much the cancer has spread and how well treatment works. The survival rate is highest if the tumor is in the early stages and has not spread outside the kidney. If it has spread to the lymph nodes or to other organs, the survival rate is much lower.
Renal cell carcinoma (RCC)is the most common type of kidney cancer. RCC begins small and grows larger over time, like many other cancers. Based on limited observations, renal cancers appear to grow approximately 1 cm (1/2 inch) in diameter per year. RCC usually grows as a single mass. Sometimes, a kidney may contain more than one tumor or tumors may be found in both kidneys at the same time.
Survival predictors...!!!
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Stage of disease is a predictor of survival. Researchers have linked certain factors with shorter survival times in people with kidney cancer that has spread outside the kidney. These include:
- High blood lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) level
- High blood calcium level
- Anemia (low red blood cell count)
- Cancer spread to 2 or more distant sites
- Less than a year from diagnosis to the need for systemic treatment (targeted therapy, immunotherapy, or chemotherapy)
- Poor performance status (a measure of how well a person can do normal daily activities)
People with none of the above factors are considered to have a good prognosis; 1 or 2 factors are considered intermediate prognosis, and 3 or more of these factors are considered to have a poor prognosis (outlook) and may be more or less likely to benefit from certain treatments.