Papillary Renal Cell Carcinoma
What is Papillary Renal Cell Carcinoma?
Commonly known as “renal cell cancer”, Papillary Renal Cell Carcinoma (PRCC) is a cancer of the kidneys. PRCC forms in the small tubes of the kidneys that act as a filter. It is the second most common type of kidney cancer.
Between 3,500 and 5,000 new cases of PRCC are diagnosed in the United States each year according to a study published in 2005.
What are the symptoms of Papillary Renal Cell Carcinoma?
Papillary Renal Cell Carcinoma most commonly presents with the following symptoms:
- unexplained fever
- blood in the urine
- unexplained weight loss
- pain in the side
- a lump or mass in the side
- excessive fatigue
What causes Papillary Renal Cell Carcinoma?
The cause of Papillary Renal Cell Carcinomas is not completely understood. Most patients are diagnosed around the age of 64 and have contributing factors that include: smoking, hypertension and obesity.
It’s unclear why one person might develop kidney cancer while another won’t. However, obesity, high blood pressure, and smoking are known to be contributing factors. Your risk rises based on how long and how much you’ve smoked.
The average age of someone diagnosed with kidney cancer is 64, with most cases occurring in people 55 and older. According to a study published in 2005, between 3,500 and 5,000 new cases of PRCC are diagnosed in the United States each year.
How is Papillary Renal Cell Carcinoma diagnosed?
Papillary Renal Cell Carcinoma is diagnosed using the following tests:
- MRI
- urinalysis
- CT scan
- blood test
- ultrasound
What are the treatments for Papillary Renal Cell Carcinoma?
Papillary Renal Cell Carcinoma treatment is based on the stage your PRCC is in and may include one of the five following treatments:
- Surgery
- Radiation therapy
- Chemotherapy
- Biologic therapy
- Targeted therapy
