Wilms tumor, which Attacking Kidney Kids

Wilms tumor is a rare kidney cancer that often affects children. Also known as nephroblastoma, the most common malignant tumor affecting the kidney of children. The peak time of occurrence of Wilms tumor is approximately 3 to 4 years of age and rarely occurs after the age of 6 years. Although it can attack both kidneys, the disease tends to affect only one kidney.

Wilms tumor is believed to develop from cells of the immature kidney. The imaging technique may help physicians to determine the extent of cancer in Wilms tumor and treatment plan. The possibility of cure in children with Wilms tumor is very large.

Symptom

Wilms tumor may not be detected early because it can grow without causing pain. When large, these tumors generally made it known before to have a chance to spread (metastasize) to other body parts.
Children who develop symptoms may have:
1. Abdominal swelling
2. There is a lump in the abdomen that can be felt
3. Fever
4. Blood in urine
5. Decreased appetite
6. High blood pressure
7. Constipation
8. Stomach pain
9. Nausea

Cause

The exact cause is still unknown. But it is believed that these cancers arise when the child is still developing in the womb and some cells that should form the kidneys fail to develop properly. In contrast, cells that reproduce by way of primitive, into tumors that appear more clearly when the child was about 3 or 4 years.

Some cancers (including tumors) caused by mutations in genes that control growth, so let the cells proliferate uncontrollably. In some cases, cancer is caused by a genetic defect inherited from parent to child.

Treatments and drugs

The standard treatment for Wilms tumor is surgery and chemotherapy. The results of laboratory examinations are needed to determine whether radiation therapy is also diperlukan.Karena type of cancer is rare, doctors may recommend that parents seek treatment at the cancer center of children who have experience treating cancer.

Operation

Surgical removal of kidney tissue called a nephrectomy. Various types of nephrectomy include:
1. Simple nephrectomy.
In this operation, surgeons remove the kidney are affected. The remaining kidney can increase capacity and take over the entire task of filtering the blood.

2. Partial nephrectomy.
Partial removal of the tumor and kidney tissue. This is usually done when the other kidney is damaged or no longer exists.

3. Radical nephrectomy.
Doctors take kidney and surrounding tissues, including the ureter and adrenal gland. Lymph nodes in the vicinity can also be lifted ..

At surgery, a pediatrician examine both kidneys and the abdominal cavity to prove the existence of cancer. Samples of kidney, lymph nodes and any tissue that looks abnormal is removed and examined under a microscope to identify cancer cells.

If both kidneys need to be removed, the child will need dialysis until he was healthy enough to transplant. Doctors who specialize in pathology will examine the tumor cells under a microscope and look for traits that indicate whether the cancer is aggressive or tersebur susceptible to chemotherapy.

Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy uses drugs to kill cancer cells throughout the body. This treatment led to rapid cell division that normal cells are exposed to change quickly, as well as cancer cells. Consequently, these drugs can have side effects nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, hair loss and white blood cell count is low. Most side effects will improve after the drug was stopped and diminished during therapy.

At high doses, chemotherapy can destroy bone marrow cells. If a child will undergo high-dose chemotherapy, your doctor may tell the child that the marrow cells removed first. After chemotherapy, the marrow will be returned through the intravenous line, the procedure is called autologous bone marrow reinfusion.

Radiation Therapy

Radiation therapy uses X-rays or other sources of high-energy rays to kill cancer cells. Possible side effects include: nausea, fatigue and skin irritation. Diarrhea may occur after radiation to the abdomen.

Treatment stages
1. Cancer Stage I or II
If the cancer is confined to the kidney or nearby structures and tumor cell types are not aggressive, the child will undergo removal of kidney tissue and some lymph nodes near the affected kidney. After that followed by chemotherapy. Some stage II cancers are also treated with radiation.

2. Cancer Stage III or IV
If the cancer has spread within the stomach and can not be completely removed without endangering the structure as the main blood vessel, the radiation will be added to surgery and chemotherapy. The child may undergo chemotherapy before surgery to shrink the tumor.

3. Cancer Phase V
If tumor cells are present in both kidneys, the cancer of both kidneys to be removed during surgery and lymph nodes taken to see whether it contains tumor cells. Chemotherapy is given to shrink the remaining tumor. Repeated surgery to remove as much tumor as possible and are still functioning kidney tissue is maintained. Chemotherapy and radiation therapy can be given later.