Kidney Cancer
( Renal Cell Carcinoma )
There are several types of cancer that affect the kidney, but
the most common type is called renal cell carcinoma. It
appears twice as often in men as in women and generally
strikes people in their late fifties. The causes of kidney
cancer are not exactly known, but an increased risk is
associated with smoking and high-fat diets.
Blood in the urine, flank pain, and an abdominal mass
that the doctor can feel are the three main symptoms of
kidney cancer, although all three symptoms seldom occur
together. While blood in the urine is the only symptom in
60 percent of all cases, it is by no means a sure sign of
kidney cancer. Kidney stones; infections of the kidney,
bladder, and urethra;
yeast infections; and urinary-tract injuries
also can cause bleeding. A cancer diagnosis must be
confirmed by a biopsy.
Kidney cancer is classified according to systems that
measure tumor size and extent of spread. This form of
cancer tends to spread early in its development, especially to
the lungs. It also disables the immune system, which
makes treatment more difficult. In early stages, the kidney
and adjacent lymph nodes may be removed. In later stages,
surgery may be combined with radiation therapy.
Chemotherapy is sometimes used, although kidney cancer
is resistant to most medications. Newer treatments for kidney
cancer include immunotherapy, such as the immune
component interleukin-2 (IL-2).
Herbal therapy should always be used as part of a
medically directed overall treatment program for kidney
cancer, especially since making immunotherapy bearable is an
important use of herbs in this disease.
Supplements and herbs
- Astragalus capsules. Take 500-1,000 mg 3 times daily.
Stops the spread of kidney cancer. Stimulates the immune system
to produce T and natural killer (NK) cells.
Do not use astragalus if you have a fever or a skin infection.
- Cat's claw tincture. Take the dosage recommended on label
in 1/2 cup water with 1 tsp lemon juice.
Stimulates NK-cell production.
Do not use cat's claw if you have to take insulin for diabetes. Do not use it if you are
pregnant or nursing. Do not give it to a child under 6.
- Lentinan intramuscular injection, given by health-care provider.
Activates Iymphokine-activated killer (LAK) and NK cells to attack kidney cancer cells.
- Licorice glycyrrhizin tablets. Take 600 mg daily. Use under professional supervision.
Reduces inflammation. Has eliminated tumors in laboratory animals.
- Reishi tablets. Take 3 gm 3 times daily.
Stimulates production of IL-2. Helps reduce swelling.
- Siberian ginseng pure Eleutherococcus senticosus extract.
Take as directed on the label in 1/4 cup water.
Can be useful for cancers that respond to immunotherapy.
HERBS TO AVOID - If you have kidney cancer, you should avoid
mate. This
herb also increases the risk of developing kidney cancer,
especially among people who eat beef daily.
Additional things you may do
- Drink grape juice. There is some evidence that grape
juice may serve as an antidote for food toxins causing
kidney and liver cancer.
- Use supplemental L-carnitine to reduce (but not
eliminate) the swelling associated with IL-2 therapy. Take 500
milligrams three times daily.
- Whenever possible, get twenty to thirty minutes of
sunlight exposure every day (but be sure to avoid heat
stress). Sunlight helps the skin manufacture vitamin
D,
which helps prevent the spread of kidney cancer to the
bones. It also may slow the growth of primary tumors in
the kidney.
- Immunotherapy is the use of agents that stimulate the
immune system. Interferon-alpha slows the growth of
cancer cells, and alters their surfaces so that immune-system
cells called macrophages can recognize and destroy them
Interleukin-2 (IL-2) activates two kinds of immune-system
cells-rumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL) and
lymphokine-activated killer (LAK) cells-that attack cancer
cells, and other parts of the immune system that fight
infection. Sometimes the hormone melatonin is used with IL-2
for increased effectiveness. While these therapies do help
some people, they have side effects that may be severe
enough to stop treatment. These effects include swelling
caused by IL-2, and loss of appetite,
fatigue, fever and
chills, and nausea caused by interferon-alpha. Using the
two therapies together has shown positive results, but also
combines the side effects.
- Eating a healthy diet is an important way to help
prevent kidney cancer. Eating five servings of fruits and
vegetables daily may reduce the risk of developing kidney
cancer by about 80 percent, and that risk can be further
reduced by avoiding the fat found in whole milk and
butter. It is also a good idea to avoid eating too much protein.
Although an independent connection between protein
consumption and kidney cancer has not been clearly
established, high protein consumption can cause other kidney
problems that increase the risk of cancer. Use
over-the-counter analgesics sparingly. Aspirin, acetaminophen, and
caffeine in over-the-counter medications elevate the risk of
developing kidney cancer. Heavy coffee consumption (seven or
more cups a day) also raises the risk of kidney cancer.
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