Sacomatoid RCC T2a carcinoma disease

Hi leon06,

Thanks for getting in touch and welcome to the Online Community. I’m Heidi one of the Cancer Information Nurses here on the Macmillan Support Line. We also have a very welcoming kidney cancer forum that you might find supportive.   

Thank you for your question about life expectancy for a man diagnosed with T2a sarcomatoid renal cell cancer.

I am unsure if the question regarding life expectancy relates to yourself or someone you know, but I hope the following information will be helpful.

Around 5 out of 100 renal cell cancers have sarcomatoid features. This means that some of the cancer cells look like sarcoma cells under a microscope.

The treatment of sarcomatoid kidney cancers are the same as for the other types of renal cell cancers. Surgery is the main treatment for stage 1,2 or 3 kidney cancer but this may vary depending on the individual situation.  

Life expectancy or prognosis gives an idea about whether the cancer can be cured and what may happen in the future. There are many factors that affect life expectancy. These include the type, stage and grade of a cancer, how well the cancer responds to treatment a persons age and general health.

Cancer survival statistics can be used by a specialist team to give more information about the likely outcome of treatment and your prognosis. However, cancer survival statistics cannot tell you what will happen to you as an individual. Everyone is different and can respond to treatment in different ways. Also, as new statistics become available, your doctor’s opinion on a prognosis may change.

Two people, with the same type and stage of cancer can have a different prognosis. That’s why it can be difficult for specialists to say how long a person is likely to live for. 

Uncertainty about what the future may hold can be very difficult to cope with. Please do feel comfortable asking the specialist team more about life expectancy if this is something that is worrying you.

Please don’t hesitate to get in touch again if we can support you further.

With best wishes

Heidi

Cancer Information Nurse Specialist 

You can also speak with the Macmillan Support Line team of experts. Phone free on 0808 808 0000 (7 days a week, 8am-8pm) or email us. 

Ref/UH/HC