Doctors use the TNM staging system to determine the stages and treatment for kidney cancer as with most cases of the condition, the method used to treat it depends on the extent to which cancer has spread. They do this by scanning and observing the Tumor (T), Node (N) and Metastasis (M) of this condition. There are 5 stages involved in kidney cancer, stage 0 and stages I to IV.

Given below is further information on the stages of kidney cancer and treatment methods used for it.

Stage I kidney cancer
In Stage I, the reading is (T1, N0, M0), which means the tumor is 7cm or 4cm to 7cm and is only located in the kidney. It hasn’t spread to lymph nodes or other organs. Treatment of stage I renal cell cancer may include the following methods:

• Surgery (radical nephrectomy, simple nephrectomy, or partial nephrectomy)
• Radiation therapy as palliative therapy to relieve the symptoms of patients who are unable to have surgery
• Arterial embolization as palliative therapy

Stage II kidney cancer
In Stage II, the reading is (T2, N0, M0), which means the tumor is larger than 7cm and is located in the kidney. At this level, it hasn’t spread to lymph nodes or other organs in this stage. Treatment of stage II kidney cancer may include the following:

• Surgery (radical nephrectomy or partial nephrectomy)
• Surgery (nephrectomy), before or after radiation therapy
• Radiation therapy as palliative therapy to relieve symptoms in patients who for various reasons are unable to opt for surgery
• Arterial embolization as palliative therapy

Stage III kidney cancer
In Stage III, the reading is (T1 or T2, N1, M0) which means the tumor of any size is located only in the kidney. It has spread to the regional lymph nodes but not to other parts of the body. Alternatively, the reading can be (T3, any N, M0), which means the tumor has grown into major veins or perinephric tissue and may or may not have spread to regional lymph nodes. It has not spread to other parts of the body. Treatment of stage III kidney cancer may include the following:

• Surgery (radical nephrectomy). Blood vessels of the kidney and some lymph nodes may also be removed
• Arterial embolization followed by surgery (radical nephrectomy)
• Radiation therapy in this stage is basically palliative therapy to relieve symptoms and improve the quality of life of the patient
• Arterial embolization as palliative therapy
• Surgery (nephrectomy) as palliative therapy
• Radiation therapy before or after surgery (radical nephrectomy)
• A clinical trial of biologic therapy following surgery

Stage IV kidney cancer
In Stage IV, the reading can be (T4, any N, M0) or (any T, any N, M1), which means the tumor has spread to areas beyond Gerota’s fascia and extends into the adrenal gland on the same side of the body as the tumor and lymph nodes, but not to other parts of the body or to body organs such as the lungs, bones, or the brain. Treatment of stage IV and recurrent kidney cancer may include the following:

• Surgery (radical nephrectomy)
• Surgery (nephrectomy) to reduce the tumor’s size
• Targeted therapy
• Immunotherapy
• Radiation therapy as palliative therapy to relieve the patient’s symptoms and improve their quality of life