Muller 1
Sarah Muller
Mrs. Whitacre
11 March 2012
Scientific Paper
Renal Cell Cancer
Have you ever known someone who has or has had Kidney Cancer also referred to as Renal Cell
Cancer? Studies show that an estimated 11,958,000 men, women, and children have been affected by
cancer as of January 1, 2008 in the cancer prevalence studies. Cancer prevalence is the total number of
people living with cancer at any point in time. There is an estimated 64,770 new cases of kidney cell
cancer in the United States in 2012, and an estimated 12,570 deaths from kidney cancer in the United
States in 2012.
Kidney cancer also referred to as Renal Cell Cancer and Renal Pelvis Cancer, is a disease where
malignant tumors will form in the tubules of the kidney. The cancer will form within the tissues of the
kidneys; the body’s two kidneys are located on both sides of the backbone, above the waist. Renal Cell
Carcinoma is where cancer forms within the lining of the small tubes inside the kidney that is in charge
to remove waste products and filter the body’s blood. Renal Pelvis Carcinoma is a cancer that forms in
the center of the kidney where the urine is collected. When developed in children under the age of 5 it
can be referred to as a Wilms Tumor.
Studies have come up with multiple factors that put you at risk of Renal Cell cancer. These
include:
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Smoking
The misuse of certain pain medicines, including over the counter pain medicines, for
long periods of time
Having certain genetic conditions, such as von Hippel-Lindau disease or hereditary
papillary Renal Cell Carcinoma.
Older age
Being a male-men are more likely to develop this than women
Obesity
High Blood Pressure
Chemicals found in your workplace
Treatment for kidney failure
Muller 2
Possible Signs of Renal Cell cancer includes:
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Blood found in the urine
A lump in the abdomen
Pain in the side that does not go away
Loss of appetite
Weight loss for no reason
Anemia
Fatigue
Intermittent fevers
There are multiple tests that can be done to examine the body’s abdomen and kidneys to check
for Renal Cell cancer. Some of the tests I have found are:
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Physical exam
Blood Chemistry studies
Urinalysis
Liver Function test
Intravenous pyelogram (IVP)
Ultra sound exam
CT scan (CAT scan)
MRI (magnetic resonance imaging)
Biopsy
A better understanding of each type of test is defined in the chart below.
Test Name:
Definition:
Physical exam
Body exam looking for general signs of health
complications.
A blood sample is checked to measure the
amounts of certain substance that are being
released into the blood by organs and tissues
inside of the body.
To check the color of the urine and its
contents, such as sugar, protein, red blood
cells, and white blood cells.
Procedure where a sample of blood is checked
to measure the amounts of enzymes that are
being released into it by the liver.
A series of X-rays of the kidneys, ureters and
bladder to find out if cancer is present in these
organs.
Blood Chemistry Studies
Urinalysis
Liver Function Test
Intravenous pyelogram (IVP)
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Ultra sound exam
CT (CAT scan)
MRI (magnetic resonance imaging)
Biopsy
Procedure in which high-energy sound waves
(ultra sound) are bounced off of internal
tissues or organs and make echoes. The
echoes form a picture of body tissues called a
sonogram.
A procedure that takes a series of detailed
pictures of areas found inside the body, taken
from different angles.
A procedure that uses a magnet, radio waves,
and a computer to make a series of detailed
pictures inside of the body.
The removal of cells or tissues so they can be
viewed under a microscope by a pathologist to
check for signs of cancer.