| Welcome
to The Cancer Information Network |
Wilm's
Tumor Treatment
Information for Patients |
![[National Cancer Institute Logo]](../../images/ncilogo_nobar.gif) |
|
|
Once Wilms' tumor has been found, more tests will be
done to find out if cancer cells have spread from the kidney to other parts
of the body. This is called staging. Your child's doctor needs to know the
stage of the disease to plan treatment. The following stages are used for
Wilms' tumor:
Cancer is found only in the kidney and can be
completely removed by surgery.
Cancer has spread to the areas near the kidney, such
as to fat or soft tissue, to blood vessels, or to the renal sinus (a large
part of the kidney through which blood and fluid enter and exit the kidney).
The cancer can be completely removed by surgery.
Cancer has spread to areas near the kidney, but cannot
be completely removed by surgery. The cancer may have spread to important
blood vessels or organs near the kidney or the cancer may have spread
throughout the abdomen, so that the doctor cannot remove all the cancer
during surgery. The cancer may also have spread to the lymph nodes (small
bean-shaped structures found throughout the body that produce and store
infection-fighting cells) near the kidney.
Cancer has spread to organs further away from the
kidney, such as the lungs, liver, bone, and brain.
Cancer cells are found in both kidneys.
Recurrent disease means that the cancer has come back
(recurred) after it has been treated. It may come back where it started or
in another part of the body.
In Wilms' tumor, how the cancer cells look under a
microscope (histology) is also very important. The cancer cells can be of
favorable histology or unfavorable histology (which includes diffuse
anaplastic and clear cell sarcoma of the kidney).
Back to Content
Page
Next >>
|
Questions
about cancer or its treatment?
Get answers from a board-certified oncologist.
