About this topic
Cancer happens when normal cells in the body grow out of control. A Wilms tumor is a cancerous tumor that forms inside the kidney. This is the most common kidney cancer in children. Most of the time, tumors are only in one kidney but they can happen in both kidneys. Your body has two kidneys, one on each side of the backbone. The kidneys remove waste products from the body. They also help control blood pressure and make sure that the body has the right amount of red blood cells. ‚
This kind of cancer is treated in a number of ways. They may include surgery, radiation, or drugs called chemo. ‚
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What are the causes?
Doctors do not know why these cells grow out of control. ‚
What can make this more likely to happen?
You are more likely to have a Wilms tumor if you have certain birth defects. Some of them are having a missing iris or colored part of the eye, urinary tract problems, or swelling on one side of the body. This kind of tumor is also found in people who have some birth defect syndromes. You are more likely to have a Wilms' tumor if your brother, sister, or twin also has one. It is most often found around 3 years of age and rarely happens after a child is 8 years old. ‚
What are the main signs?
- Belly pain, feeling sick, or throwing up
- Hard stools
- Not wanting to eat
- Swelling or a mass that you can feel in the belly area
- Fever
- High blood pressure
- More growth on only one side of the body
- Trouble breathing
- Blood in the urine or abnormal urine color
How does the doctor diagnose this health problem?
The doctor will do an exam and feel your childs belly to see if there is a mass. The doctor may order tests like: ‚
- Lab tests
- Ultrasound
- X-ray
- CT or MRI scan
- Intravenous pyelogram
- Bone scan
- Biopsy
How does the doctor treat this health problem?
Doctors look at the tumor cells under the microscope. This helps them decide the best way to treat your child. Treatment may be surgery, chemo, or radiation. ‚
Are there other health problems to treat?
If your child has chemo or radiation, there may be certain side effects that will need care. ‚
What drugs may be needed?
The doctor may order drugs to: ‚
- Help with pain
- Boost the immune system
- Help with side effects like upset stomach and throwing up
- Prevent infection
What changes to diet are needed?
Eating a healthy diet is important during this time. No special changes to diet are needed for children who had a well-contained tumor. If your childs kidney was taken out, the doctor may order a low-salt diet. Talk to your doctor to see if your child needs to be on a special diet. ‚
What problems could happen?
- Cancer could come back or spread to other areas
- Feeling weak
- Not able to have children later in life
- Infection
- Less kidney function
What can be done to prevent this health problem?
There is no way to prevent this health problem from happening. ‚
Where can I learn more?
American Cancer Society ‚
http://www.cancer.org/Cancer/WilmsTumor/index ‚
KidsHealth ‚
http://kidshealth.org/parent/medical/kidney/wilms.html# ‚
National Organization for Rare Disorders ‚
http://www.rarediseases.org/rare-disease-information/rare-diseases/byID/343/viewAbstract ‚
Consumer Information Use and Disclaimer
This information is not specific medical advice and does not replace information you receive from your health care provider. This is only a brief summary of general information. It does NOT include all information about conditions, illnesses, injuries, tests, procedures, treatments, therapies, discharge instructions or life-style choices that may apply to you. You must talk with your health care provider for complete information about your health and treatment options. This information should not be used to decide whether or not to accept your health care providers advice, instructions or recommendations. Only your health care provider has the knowledge and training to provide advice that is right for you. ‚
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Copyright ‚ © 2015 Clinical Drug Information, LLC and Lexi-Comp, Inc. ‚