What Are the Stages of Renal Cell Carcinoma?
When a person is diagnosed with RCC, the care team will “stage” the disease. This is based on the tumor size and if the cancer has spread.
Most of the time, RCC is discovered in the early stages (stages 1-3). This means that the cancer is only in one kidney or has spread to nearby lymph nodes.
Stage 4 RCC is rare. It occurs when the cancer is discovered after it has already spread to other parts of the body. This can include areas like distant lymph nodes, the blood, the chest, spine, soft tissues or brain.
Renal cell carcinoma treatment options: Stages 1-3
When the tumor is found in stage 1-3, the standard treatment is surgery to remove part or all of the kidney. The surgeon will likely recommend removing some lymph nodes as well. Luckily, most people can live healthy lives with one kidney or even most of one kidney.
Surgery provides a cure for about 80% of children with RCC. These patients do not need additional therapy, such as chemotherapy or radiation therapy.
Renal cell carcinoma treatment options: Stage 4 and relapse
About 20% of children with RCC need a different treatment than surgery alone. This may be because their cancer cannot be surgically removed, has spread to other parts of the body or has returned after initial treatment.
There are no “standard” treatments for these patients. Treatment is based on what works for adults with RCC. Researchers at Cincinnati Children’s and other pediatric hospitals are creating and testing new therapies for pediatric forms of RCC. Treatment options include:
- Immunotherapy. These drugs boost the body’s immune system. They help ward off cancer cells.
- Biologics (anti-angiogenic drugs). These drugs block blood flow to the tumor. They target proteins that promote tumor growth.
- Radiation therapy. This can help with pain control. It treats tumors that are hard to remove with surgery.
- Chemotherapy. This is rarely used to treat patients with RCC. It can be part of the treatment plan.
