Kidney Cancer Stages, Signs, and Treatments
Kidney cancer can develop in one or both kidneys. Some types of cancerous tumors spread to other parts of the body while others grow bigger but do not spread to other organs. Irrespective of the type of kidney cancer, you should know the stages and treatment for the condition, so as to prevent it from progressing too much. Staging of cancer refers to determining the location and size of the tumors and knowing whether or not it has spread to other organs. There are 4 stages of kidney cancer. Stage I In this stage, the tumor is limited to one or both kidneys and has a diameter not exceeding 7 cms. Stage II The difference between stage I and stage II is the size of the tumor. In this case, the tumor is still limited to the kidneys but is more than 7 cm in size. Stage III In this stage, the cancerous tumor would have spread to one of the following: At least one nearby lymph node but not to other parts of the body The main blood vessel in the kidney. It could also have spread to a nearby lymph node The fatty tissue in and around the kidneys The perinephric tissues and major veins but not the ipsilateral adrenal gland Stage IV When it comes to the stages and treatment for kidney cancer, this one is the hardest.