How Fast Does Kidney Cancer Spread?
Cancers that start in the kidneys are classified as kidney cancers. Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) occurs in most kidney cancer cases, with other less common types being Wilms tumor and transitional cell carcinoma. A common question that a kidney cancer specialist in Navi Mumbai is often asked is, “How fast does kidney cancer spread?”
As with other types of malignancies, cancer starting in the kidneys is treatable when diagnosed at an early stage (when it hasn’t spread to the nearby organs and tissues). Let’s understand the factors affecting the speed at which kidney cancer spreads.
Cancer Stages
Over 90% of kidney cancers are RCC, which has three subtypes: clear cell, papillary, and chromophobe. Of these, clear cell renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is more likely to travel through the bloodstream to different parts of the body. Cancer’s stage tells how far the cancer has spread and helps determine a patient’s prognosis. Let’s understand the different stages of kidney cancer:
- Stage 1: At this stage, the tumor is small and confined to the kidney.
- Stage 2: The tumor’s size is above 7 cm, but it has still not gone outside the kidney.
- Stage 3: Kidney cancer at stage 3 reach blood vessels and lymph nodes.
- Stage 4: The cancer has metastasized to different parts.
Cancer can develop over time or occur rapidly. How fast it grows or spreads depends on the type of cancer, its stage, aggressiveness, and other medical factors. Let’s explore each in brief.
Key Influencing Factors
Tumor Type: Kidney cancers have different growth rates based on their type. Some low-grade cancers grow slowly and are less likely to metastasize, while high-grade cancer, such as clear cell RCC, which is also the most common kidney cancer, can spread fast. Other subtypes occur in fewer people and are less likely to metastasize.
Lymph/blood System Involvement: Cancer cells that have penetrated the lymph nodes or blood vessel walls are more likely to metastasize, as they can travel to distant parts of your body through the bloodstream.
Genetics and Overall Health: Certain gene mutations can also affect cancer growth. Moreover, your overall health and immunity can impact the growth of cancer. People with good immunity respond better to the treatment. Smoking, obesity, and high blood pressure can result in fast-growing kidney cancer.
Where It Spreads
Kidney cancers can spread to the lungs, liver, lymph nodes, adrenal glands, bones, skin, and in some cases, brain. The location where the cancer spreads can vary from person to person. Once it’s spread, it’s harder to treat. That’s why seeking kidney cancer treatment in Navi Mumbai in the early stages can help improve the outcome of your treatment.
Detection & Treatment
CT scans, ultrasounds, and MRIs are a few imaging tests that can detect tumors. Biopsies are a highly reliable way to confirm the presence of cancerous cells. If it’s caught in the early stages, partial or total nephrectomy (kidney removal) surgery might be recommended.
For more aggressive cancers, targeted therapy and immunotherapy are used. Chemotherapy and radiation are not used as a treatment for kidney cancer, as RCC is resistant to chemodrugs.
