Every day in Britain around 30 people find out that they have kidney cancer. Kidney cancer is the eighth most common form of cancer and there are around 7,400 newly diagnosed cases each year.
Sadly, it accounts for around 3,700 deaths annually, which is more than die on the roads each year. These facts might suggest kidney cancer is a well-known disease but in fact, the results of a recent sample survey commissioned by Novartis and undertaken by YouGov Plc, show, most dramatically, that this is certainly not the case.
Three results are especially concerning.
- The survey revealed that only 2 per cent of adults in the country have heard much about kidney cancer, when compared to a range of other cancers. Interestingly, over half of adults [54%] claim to have heard most about cervical cancer and 42% for leukaemia, even though there are fewer cases of these diseases than kidney cancer each year. But perhaps most worrying of all is the finding that almost half [44%] have never even heard of the term 'kidney cancer'.
- In the UK the number of people diagnosed with kidney cancer has increased by 22% over the last 10 years, however, most UK adults don't know what causes the disease. According to the survey, only 1 in 20 [5%] of adults correctly identify smoking as the probable main cause of kidney cancer. This is particularly concerning given that cigarette smokers are thought to be twice as likely as non-smokers to develop the disease. Over a quarter [27%] of adults mistakenly cite alcohol as the probable cause.
- If caught early, kidney cancer can be cured by surgery but most UK adults are unclear on the symptoms of the disease. The more advanced a kidney cancer is, the less likely it is that it will be cured by surgery. Once it has spread to other parts of the body (metastasised) it is unlikely that a surgeon can cure it. Instead, the aim of treatment will be to control the disease, for example by drugs. It is particularly important that people notice symptoms which might be due to a kidney cancer and seek medical help. In the light of this, it is worrying that 1 in 10 people who have experienced blood in their urine - haematuria as it is known - have not had it checked out by a medical professional. Haematuria must always be checked out in each and every instance. Haematuria is neither a necessary nor sufficient condition for cancer to be present, but the probabilities rise exponentially if it is painless, since other causes, like an infection or kidney stones are most likely to be accompanied by pain, sometimes excruciating pain.
KCUK sees raising awareness of the disease and the issues surrounding it and one of its key aims. Our fact-pack contains much more information and is available to download and is distributed widely to patients, carers and health professionals.
Painless Haematuria
KCUK is most interested in anything that promotes early diagnosis and raises awareness since the benefits of curative outcomes from surgery are truly very great. Kidney cancer has few obvious symptoms, but anyone experiencing blood in the urine (Painless Haematuria) should immediately seek medical advice.
At KCUK we take calls on a daily basis from newly-diagnosed patients as the case study below illustrates.
Having a seemingly innocuous symptom fully investigated is sometimes easier said than done. Indeed, a KCUK representative experienced painless haematuria but did his level best to ignore it! It was shocking but, most foolishly, he put it down to the fact that he had just been thrashing around in the garden and had burst a blood vessel or something like that. His gardening exertions had precisely nothing to do with it! He had been encouraged in this direction by the fact that the bleeding had stopped. So he then forgot about it for a few days until it reappeared, albeit much less profusely. Once again it stopped and, incredibly, he dismissed it again as the final throes of a non-serious event. Fortunately his wife was not so easily fooled; and it was on account of some incessant nagging from her that the 'lucky chap' went to hospital to have it all checked out! It did turn out to be kidney cancer, but was treated successfully.
Jane’s Journey
To sustain its campaign and raising awareness aims, KCUK took a full part in the production and showing of a documentary film on kidney cancer. It is called Jane’s Journey and the eponymous star is Jane Thompson, a kidney cancer patient at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham, other KCUK representatives who appeared in the accompanying educational clips were Nicholas Owen (KCUK Patron and Member), Professor Tim Eisen (KCUK Chairperson and Trustee), Jackie Lowe (KCUK Member) and the author of this article. The premiere took place at the Curzon Soho Cinema in August 2009, when the cinema was close to being full.
The film was produced by Night and Day Films and was sponsored by Novartis Oncology. The whole event was organised by the Red Health consultancy firm, which handles PR work for Novartis. It was a real pleasure to work with such a highly professional group of people on this project.
KCUK had a number of reasons for getting involved with this film. First of all, it helps to raise awareness of the disease and of the problems involved in treating patients who have contracted it. It is true that the media storm that took place a year previously did an enormous amount to put kidney cancer in the public eye, but there is always a certain ‘decay’ effect with news items, and a documentary film will have a longer-term impact. Also, as already mentioned, a low level of awareness amongst the general public is still very much a continuing source of concern.
In addition the film makes some very powerful points on the value of the life extension afforded by new kidney cancer drugs. Jane Thompson is a patient who has been successfully treated with Sunitinib for the past two years or so. The drug has certainly helped a lot in slowing down the spread of her metastatic condition. This has enabled her to do many things she might not otherwise have had the opportunity to do. This point is backed up, most eloquently, by Jackie Lowe, whose late husband Steven also suffered from metastatic kidney cancer for which he was prescribed Sunitinib. The medication kept the tumours at bay long enough for Jackie and Steven to travel abroad and do many other things they had long hoped to do. Jackie describes the extra time they had together as ‘priceless’.
Another point the film makes very well is that, when someone in the family gets cancer, it is not just that person who is greatly affected. The situation impinges very heavily on other members of the family as well as close friends. In Jane’s Journey this is most movingly portrayed, helped enormously by the great performing ability of Jane herself. That’s very clear. [And there is another thing that is clear, abundantly clear, and that is that Jane has managed to hand down her performing ability to her 4-year-old granddaughter. What a little scene stealer she is! Those watching the film should look out for the dandelion-picking cake-eater!!].
See also
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