The most common type of kidney cancer in adults, renal cell carcinoma is a specific type of kidney cancer that begins in the lining of the small tubes or tubules of the kidney. These tubules are responsible for filtering the blood and removing waste products from the body. Also known as hypernephroma, renal cell carcinoma is often resistant to radiation therapy and chemotherapy.
Renal cell carcinoma is a progressive cancer that generally follows four stages. Once the cancer diagnosis has been made, tests are run to determine the exact level of renal cell carcinoma staging. The size of the tumor as well as the extent to which it has spread is generally used for renal cell carcinoma staging. Stage I is characterized by a tumor that is 7 centimeters or smaller and is found only in the kidney. Stage II involves a tumor that is larger than 7 centimeters and is found in the kidney. Stage III is characterized by a tumor of any size and cancer in the kidney and one or more adjacent lymph nodes or cancer in the main blood vessels of the kidney or in the layer of fatty tissue surrounding the kidney. In stage IV, the cancer has spread beyond the kidneys into other organs.
Specific symptoms of the disease may occur at any stage. Abdominal pain and swelling, back pain, blood in the urine, swelling of the veins around a testicle, flank pain and weight loss may occur. Additional symptoms that may occur in conjunction with the disease include excessive hair growth in females, pale skin and vision problems.
The exact cause of renal cell carcinoma is unknown; however, several risk factors have been identified. Several factors may increase an individual’s risk of developing kidney cancer including dialysis treatment, family history of the disease, high blood pressure, horseshoe kidney, polycystic kidney disease, smoking and Von Hippel-Lindau disease.
The 5-year survival rate of renal cell carcinoma is 60 to 70%. Early detection and intensive treatment significantly increase those odds. One of the most effective renal cell carcinoma treatments involves alkalizing the body using baking soda and citrus fruits or apple cider vinegar as cancer cannot thrive in an alkaline environment. Additionally, magnesium oxide powder can be used to cleanse and detox the system. Maintaining an organic diet, exercising and staying positive are also important elements of treatment. Continue reading below for important remedies and dietary changes as reported by our readers, including the famous Ted from Bangkok, Thailand.
