Wilms' Tumor

General Information on Wilms' Tumor

Wilms’ tumor, also known as nephroblastoma, is a type of cancer of the kidneys. Wilms’ tumor primarily affects children five years of age and younger, but can occur in children older than five. The average age of occurrences of Wilms’ tumors is three years of age. Wilms’ tumor is the most common form of kidney cancer in children. This type of cancer grows from immature kidney cells. Wilms’ tumors can occur in either just one or both of the kidneys. However, the rate of occurrences in both kidneys is only around five percent. There is no known cause for the development of Wilms’ tumors.

Symptoms of Wilms' Tumor

Some of the symptoms of Wilms’ tumor may be:

Abdominal mass
Fever
Weight loss
Loss of appetite
Stomach pain
Constipation
Nausea
Vomiting
Blood in the urine
High Blood pressure

Treatments For Wilms' Tumor

The treatment for Wilms’ tumor is typically to remove the affected kidney. After the kidney has been surgically removed, the next step in the treatment is chemotherapy. Should the tumor have spread to other areas of the body, then radiation therapy may also be included.

Personal Experience

Wilms' Tumor - personal experiences