Can someone answer a kidney cancer question?

My mom just found out that she may have kidney cancer. They found a nodule in her kidney that is about 1 cm. The doctor has ordered a pet scan and maybe a biopsy. I wanted to know how common is this and is the prognosis good? Also they found another spot in her lungs also? Any answers are greatly appreciated. Thank you!

The doctor seems to think that the two are related. She had a ct done last year and they were not there. She used to smoke(for almost twenty years) and she is very overweight.

A nodule is a small growth or lump of tissue.
It's not nessisarliy cancerous!

It's very common and can have it on many parts of the body without it being dangerous. It's best have it checked out if you do though.
Imformation about kidney cancer

Doctors and scientists do not know exactly what causes kidney cancer. But some things do increase the risk. There is information below on

How common kidney cancer is
Smoking
Obesity
Some types of kidney disease
Having high blood pressure and taking medicines for it
Taking some types of mild painkillers
Your diet
Exposure to chemicals at work
Faulty genes and inherited conditions that increase kidney cancer risk
Having one of these risk factors does not necessarily mean you will get kidney cancer. And some people diagnosed with kidney cancer do not have any of these risk factors.

How common is kidney cancer?
Kidney cancer is the 13th most common cancer diagnosed in the UK. In 2003, just under 6,700 people were diagnosed. Nearly 2 out 3 people diagnosed (62%) are over 65 years old. Kidney cancer is rare in people under 50. It affects many more men than women. This could be because in the past more men smoked cigarettes. Smoking increases your risk of getting kidney cancer.
If you would like more infromation go to
www.cancerhelp.org.uk

would go to webmd.com

Lots of people have nodules in places in their body. They do not always indicate malignancy.
If your mother smokes, it makes her a huge risk for cancer.
I think they are probably just being on the safe side.

a nodule can denote many things, I didn't have a biopsy with my Kidney cancer, It generally isn't done. At the time I also had a spot on my liver. Which they feel is unrelated, I had only one kidney and they did a partial Nephrectomy, the cancer came back 2 years ago, and the radiologist used a needle inserted into the kidney to burn it out, It was called an ablation. here's a bit of advice , that will help you, Do NOT speculate nor begin to build this into a mountain, If you want answers, talk to her Urologist. Stress is not good for either of you. And yes, they can do wonders. my prayer is with you both.

Sorry to hear your news, My Mum was diagnosed with kidney cancer in may 2007. She had no symptoms except a few 'bleeds' in her urine. She was sent to a urologist where they found a 5cm mass on her right kidney. At first thought they where going to remove her kidney and that would be the end of it. However, she was booked in for a ct scan where they found 3 tumours around 2cm in her liver, and 'numerous' spots on her lungs. We where told by our urologist that once kidney cancer has spread or metastasised it is incurable. Your mums tumors are very small so she may have a better prognosis. 5 weeks later they re scanned Mum, and the tumor on the kidney was bigger than the kidney itself. One of the liver tumors had grown to OVER 12cm, and the spots on the lungs had doubled a multiplied. Mum pasted away Sept 7 after only a 4 month battle aged 60. She lead a healthy life, never smoked or drunk a day in her life, what has happened has hit me like a truck and everyday is as painful as the next. contact me if you need any info i will help you.