Also known as Nephroblastoma
ABOUT THE DISEASE
Wilms tumor is a type of kidney cancer that mostly affects children. Although it can affect both kidneys, it usually develops in just one.
It is more common in children between the age of 3 and 4 years and becomes much less common after age 5.
SYMPTOMS
In the early stages, Wilms tumor usually has no symptoms or signs and therefore, children with Wilms tumor may appear healthy. It might remain undetected in early stages but later, the following symptoms appear:
- • Abdominal swelling
- • Abdominal pain
- • Low-grade fever
- • Blood in the urine
- • Nausea and vomiting
- • Loss of appetite
- • Weight loss
- • Paleness
CAUSES
The exact cause of a Wilms tumor is not known, however, it perhaps begins before birth when some cells of the kidney do not develop properly. These anomalous cells multiply in their primal state and take the form of a tumor. The tumor can usually be detected by the age of 3 to 4 years.
Most Wilms tumors occur randomly. They are sporadic events, being the result of genetic mutations that affect cell growth in the kidney.
DIAGNOSIS
- Physical examination
- Medical history
- Blood and urine tests
- Imaging tests
TREATMENT METHODS
Treatment for Wilms tumor may vary depending upon the stage of the tumor and involves the following:
• Tumor removal surgery
• Chemotherapy
• Radiation therapy
Usually a combination of treatments is given to the patient. The aim of the surgery is to remove the tumor but when the tumor is too big to be removed by surgery or the cancer has spread to both the kidneys or into the blood vessels, chemotherapy or radiation therapy (or both) is given to shrink the tumor before surgery.
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Kidney cancer
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Abdominal pain
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