When cancer starts in the kidneys, it is referred to as kidney or renal cancer. The most common type of this cancer found in adults is renal cell carcinoma. The treatment for the condition is usually decided based on its stage, and the patient’s ability to withstand certain procedures. To know more about the disease, here are the crucial aspects of the stages and treatments for kidney cancer.

Stages of kidney cancer
The stages of kidney cancer usually help in determining the progression of the condition. The earlier the stage the better the chances are of getting cured. Given below is more information to understand the stages and treatment procedures for kidney cancer.

Stage I of kidney cancer
This is the stage when the condition is the least aggressive. At this point, the chances of 5-year survival are the highest. The cancer tumor is the smallest at stage I and it appears to be limited to the kidneys. It hasn’t spread to other parts of the body yet. Patients at this stage will have to get the tumor removed and, in most cases, no follow-up treatment will be required. The patient is highly likely to recover from the condition after receiving the treatment.

Based on the needs of the patient, the team of doctors can suggest the following treatment options at this stage:

• A surgery, which can include a partial nephrectomy or a radical nephrectomy
• Ablation therapy
• Radiation therapy

Stage II of kidney cancer
This is a more severe stage as compared to stage I. The tumor has grown to 7 centimeters in size. However, it is still limited to the kidneys and there is no evidence that it has affected other parts of the body. Just like stage I, the tumor will be removed and no follow-up therapy might be required.

To treat patients at this stage, a radical nephrectomy can be suggested. Removing the entire affected kidney can be another course of treatment. Removing the tumor along with a small portion of the normal tissue, often known as partial nephrectomy, can also be considered.

Stage III of kidney cancer
Two sub-stages can be present at this stage. In the first sub-stage, the tumor has grown in size and reached a vein and affected the nearby tissues. However, it is yet to reach the lymph nodes. In the second sub-stage, the tumor can grow up to any size and it has reached the parts outside the kidney. Here, the cancer cells have also reached the lymph nodes.

The treatment options at this stage are aggressive. If cancer has affected the lymph nodes, surgery will be required to remove it. Surgery might also be required to remove the affected kidney or tumor, which might have spread to the adrenal gland attached to the kidney.

Stage IV of kidney cancer
At this stage also, there are two sub-stages. In the first sub-stage, the tumor has grown quite large and has affected the tissue outside of the kidney. It might or might not have reached the nearby lymph nodes, but it has not metastasized. In the final sub-stage, the tumor has metastasized and has reached other organs of the body.

Surgery, chemotherapy, systemic therapy, and immunotherapy are the treatment options at this stage.