2.0 Learning Outcomes

The most common early symptom of renal cancer is blood in the urine. If renal cancer is diagnosed at an early stage, there is a good chance of a cure by removal of the affected kidney to prevent the spread of the disease. The more the cancer has grown and spread throughout the body, the less chance that the treatment will cure the patient completely. However, treatment can often slow the progress of the cancer.

The most common form of renal cancer is renal cell carcinoma or RCC for short. More than 80% of renal cancers are RCCs. There are several different sub-types of RCC. The most common of these is clear cell, which account for 75-80% of RCCs. Before treatment options can be discussed and decided upon, the oncologist will need to know the type of cancer they are dealing with and how far it has progressed. Grading and staging of the tumour will help to guide the oncologist with the most appropriate treatment regimen and give the oncologist a prognosis for the individual patient.

At the end of this Module learners will be able to:

  • Describe the symptoms that are associated with renal cancer;
  • Suggest reasons why patients with renal cancer are often diagnosed at an advanced stage of the disease;
  • Demonstrate knowledge of the methods available to obtain a diagnosis;
  • Understand why the various staging investigations are carried out and how the results of these influence treatment decisions;
  • Show an awareness of the impact a diagnosis of cancer may have on the patient and their family.