Kidney cancer spread to lungs life expectancy

When you’re diagnosed with kidney cancer, the first thing your doctor will do is try to figure out if it is only in your kidney or if it has spread to other body parts. (They’ll call this metastasized.) To do this, they’ll use a process called staging. The results tell them how serious the cancer is and help them come up with a treatment plan.

To stage your cancer, the doctor will want to know:

• How big is the tumor?
• Has the cancer moved to nearby structures, like major blood vessels?
• Has the cancer spread to the nearby lymph nodes or to distant organs?

The TNM System

Doctors start by gathering details about your cancer based on results from imaging tests (CT scan, PET scan, etc.) or a biopsy (taking a small piece of the tumor and examining it for cancer cells). The most common staging method, known as the TNM system, relies on three pieces of information:

• T is for the size of the tumor: Your doctor will note the size of the tumor in centimeters, and whether it has grown into nearby areas.
• N is for nodes: This refers to lymph nodes, which are small bean-shaped filters throughout your body that help protect you from germs. Your doctor will note whether the cancer has spread to your lymph nodes.
• M is for metastasis: That means your kidney cancer has spread, or “metastasized” to other parts of the body. It can spread anywhere, but the brain, bones, liver, and lungs are the most common places.

Staging Your Cancer

Once the doctor has this information, they can use it to find the overall stage. There are four stages of kidney cancer, from 1 to 4. (You’ll usually see it as I to IV, in Roman numerals.) The stages get more serious as the numbers go up.

Stage I: You have a cancerous growth inside your kidney that’s up to 7 centimeters across. It hasn’t spread to your lymph nodes or other organs.

Stage II: You have a tumor in your kidney that’s bigger than 7 centimeters across. It hasn’t spread to your lymph nodes or other organs.

Stage III: There are several combinations of tumor sizes and locations that could make up this stage. For example, if a tumor of any size has started to grow into a major vein (renal or vena cava, for example) or into tissue around the kidney, or has spread to nearby lymph nodes, your cancer is in stage III.

Stage IV: This is made up of different combinations, too: There are several combinations of tumor sizes and locations that could make up this stage. Cancer that has spread to any organs other than nearby lymph nodes is stage IV, no matter how small the tumor is. Stage IV cancer can also spread to other organs without affecting nearby lymph nodes. Or a stage IV tumor could push into the adrenal gland just above your kidney, or past the thin sac that contains each kidney (Gerota’s fascia).

What’s the Outlook for Kidney Cancer?

When you’re looking for information on life with kidney cancer, you’ll often see a figure called the 5-year survival rate. This number compares people with the same stage of kidney cancer to people without cancer 5 years after diagnosis. The 5-year survival rate for all types of kidney cancer combined is 75%. That means you’re 75% as likely to live at least 5 years as people who don’t have cancer. How far the cancer has spread can also affect the rate for kidney cancer, which is:

• 93% when the cancer is localized. That means there’s no sign of cancer outside your kidney.
• 69% when the cancer is regional, meaning it has spread to nearby areas like your lymph nodes or adrenal gland.
• 13% if the cancer is distant, which means it has spread to other body parts like your brain, bones, or lungs.

But it’s important to keep in mind that none of these numbers reflects your particular illness. Every person is unique, and a number of things -- like cancer type (renal vs transitional), specific cell type, the stage you were in at diagnosis, and your overall health -- can play a role.

Also, these numbers reflect what was happening in the past. Experts collect them every 5 years. Diagnosis and treatment continue to improve. Every year between 2007 and 2016, deaths went down at a rate of 1% per year. Talk to your doctor about the best treatment for your particular type and stage of kidney cancer.

When you find out you have metastatic renal cell carcinoma, it can be a lot to take in. It may help you to learn more about the condition so you know what to expect.

Renal cell carcinoma is the most common type of kidney cancer. It usually starts as a tumor in one of your kidneys. And like other cancers, it can spread to other parts of your body. That’s when doctors call it metastatic. You might also hear it called stage IV kidney cancer. 

Sometimes, doctors can cure it. More often though, treatment is about slowing the disease down and managing symptoms to help you feel as good as possible.

How Does Kidney Cancer Spread?

As the tumor grows, it spreads into fat or major blood vessels around the kidney. It may also creep into the adrenal gland, which sits right on top of the organ.

From there, it can spread farther through your:

• Blood. Cancer cells that get into a blood vessel can travel to many body parts through your veins and arteries.
• Lymph system. This is a network that runs throughout your body, much like your blood vessels. It helps you fight disease. But cancer cells that get into lymph nodes can hitch a ride to other organs.

Kidney cancer most often spreads to the lungs and bones, but it can also go to the brain, liver, ovaries, and testicles.

Because it has no symptoms early on, it can spread before you even know you have it. If you do find it early, but treatment doesn’t get rid of all the cancer cells, it can come back in your kidney or somewhere else.

How Will I Feel?

The symptoms of kidney cancer are different for each person. In most cases, you’ll see blood in your pee. You may feel generally sick, tired, and like you don’t want to eat much. And you may have:

• A fever that comes and goes
• A lump in your belly
• Night sweats, so much that you need to change your clothes or sheets
• Pain in your back or side that won’t go away
• Weight loss for no reason

You might also get symptoms where the cancer spreads. If it’s in one of your bones, you might feel pain there. In your lungs, it can give you a cough or trouble breathing.

What Can I Do?

First, work with your doctor to figure out how to best treat it. Even if it can’t be cured, you may be able to slow it down and manage your symptoms with surgery, medicine, and other treatments. 

You can also do a lot on your own to feel better physically and emotionally:

Pace yourself. Cancer, and even some of its treatments, can wipe you out. Try to keep your days simple and save your energy for the important activities. And don’t be shy about resting when you need to.

Speak your symptoms. Your doctor can help with all kinds of common problems from cancer and its treatments, like constipation, upset stomach, and pain. But only if you say something about them. Check in with your doctor often to get the care you need.

Stay active. Exercise lifts your energy and helps you fight off anxiety, depression, and stress. Ask your doctor what’s safe for you to do.

Tend to your body. Along with regular exercise, try to stick to a healthy diet and get the rest you need. If you don’t feel like eating much, a dietitian might be able to help.

Find ways to relax. It’ll keep your mood and energy up. Take time to read a book, go for a walk, call a friend, get a massage, or try some meditation. Or all of the above. Go with what works best for you.

Keep in touch. Your family and friends can help you work through the mix of feelings that cancer can stir up. They can also run errands, keep you company, and boost your spirits. You might also try going to a therapist or joining a support group. Sometimes it’s easier to talk to people who aren’t quite as close to you.

Work with your doctor, and try to stay positive. There are more ways to treat the condition than ever before. Your doctor can help you think about which ones are best for you.