Saturday, January 12, 2008

KIDNEY CANCER - RENAL CELL CANCER


Renal Adenocarcinoma Cancer

Renal cell cancer develops when malignant cancerous cells begin to grow in the tubules of the kidney. Also known as kidney cancer or renal adenocarcinoma cancer, the disease is found in the small tubules that are designed to filter and purify the blood as it passes through the kidney. Undesirable products are removed during this process, which creates urine to be passed through the bladder. The tube connecting the kidney to the bladder is called the ureter. Cancers that begin their growth in the ureters or the pelvis are not the same as kidney cancer and should be distinguished as such.

Diagnostic Tests

The tests used to confirm the presence of renal cell cancer in the kidneys vary, but a practitioner will frequently use a physical examination which checks for signs of disease, blood chemistry tests that monitor the levels of various products in the blood (a sign of the working capacity of a kidney) and analysis of the urine. Various scans such as CT and ultrasound are also helpful, as are biopsy tests and MRIs.

Prognosis

A patient’s age and general health will go some way to increasing or reducing the chances of a good prognosis. However, the main factor to take into consideration when assessing the probability of a recovery is the stage of the kidney cancer when it was first diagnosed. In this sense, the earlier the cancer is found, the sooner it can be treated and the greater the chances of a recovery become. When a doctor fails to properly diagnose kidney cancer in a patient, or when there is some unnecessary delay in doing so, the risks that the patient will die from the disease sharply increase. In these cases delay may indicate the presence of medical negligence and entitle the patient to make a claim for compensation..

Intravenous Pyelogram

Doctors attempting to diagnose renal cell cancer will often make use of an intravenous pyelogram (IVP). This procedure involves taking multiple x-rays of the kidneys, bladder and ureters to investigate whether or not the cancer may have spread to these areas. A ‘contrast dye’ is typically used to help colour code the passages of blood and identify where there might be any blockages in the veins or organs.

Liver Function Test

Another diagnostic aid is the liver function test. This process involves measuring the levels of enzymes in the blood. The test looks for particular enzymes that the liver will release into the bloodstream. If an unusual level of enzymes can be seen then this can indicate that cancer has spread to the liver which may have originated in the kidneys.

Contact - Specialist Solicitor – Free Legal Advice

Our solicitors offer free advice either personally or on the telephone for whatever length of time is necessary to establish whether you have a reasonable case and they will also give advice on the claims procedure and how much compensation may be awarded. You will be given unequivocal advice on funding your claim including legal aid, no win no fee and insurance policy cover. If you would like to discuss your claim with a specialist just complete the contact form and a solicitor will phone you. If after discussing your matter you do not wish to proceed further then you are under no obligation to do so and you will not be charged for the initial advice.

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