What does RCC mean in MEDICAL

Renal Cell Carcinoma (RCC) is a type of cancer that originates in the kidneys. It develops in the cells of the renal parenchyma, which is the part of the kidney that filters blood and produces urine. RCC is one of the most common types of kidney cancer.

Common risk factors for RCC include increasing age, smoking, obesity, hypertension and chronic kidney disease. Long-term exposure to certain chemicals may increase risk as well.

Yes. If you have symptoms or signs suggesting possible RCC, your doctor will likely order imaging tests like an ultrasound or CT scan to check for tumors in your kidneys. They might also do lab tests or perform a biopsy to confirm the diagnosis.

Yes, there are several main subtypes including clear cell, papillary, chromophobe and collecting duct carcinoma. The type depends on how closely it resembles normal kidney tissue under a microscope.

Treatment depends on the stage and type of tumor, as well as individual patient characteristics and preferences. Treatment options can include surgery to remove tumors, chemotherapy or radiation therapy to destroy cancer cells or targeted therapies that interfere with specific pathways involved in tumor growth and spread.

Yes — immunotherapy has become a common approach for treating advanced forms of this cancer by using drugs to boost your immune system's ability to fight off tumor cells instead of directly targeting them with chemotherapy or radiation therapy.

After being diagnosed with this condition, you may be referred to an oncologist who specializes in treating cancers related to the urinary system including bladder cancer and prostate cancer. Your doctor will discuss various treatment options with you depending on your individual case.

Making healthy lifestyle changes such as eating a balanced diet low in red meat and processed foods, avoiding smoking, exercising regularly and getting enough sleep may help reduce symptoms associated with this condition but will not cure it.

Yes — clinical trials are ongoing research studies evaluating treatments such as experimental drugs or combinations of treatments that may be better than current standard approaches but still need testing among larger groups of patients before becoming widely accepted treatments.