March is Kidney Cancer Awareness
Month
Karen S. Lynch
Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich has proclaimed March
2008 as ÒKidney Cancer Awareness MonthÓ due to tireless efforts by Linda Cox
from Clinton. Cox lost her youngest daughter, Lori Shew, an apparently healthy 32-year-old
mother of four. Diagnosed with kidney cancer just four weeks after the birth of
her fourth child, her first daughter she named Alexis.
Shew underwent surgery five weeks after giving birth
to remove a ten pound, watermelon-sized tumor, originally diagnosed as a severe
urinary tract infection. Shew lost her heroic battle with numerous treatment
attempts, dying from kidney cancer in January of 2005.
Patients and their families have been working on
Congress to proclaim the month of March nationwide to bring awareness of the
growing percentage of kidney and renal cancers. March 13 is ÒWorld Kidney Day.Ó
The latest data from the American Cancer Society shows
in 2008 there will be 54,390 new cases of renal cancers (a 3% increase each
year) with 13,010 cases that will be terminal. Kidney cancers are most likely
to occur over age 40 and inflict nearly twice as many men as women.
A major problem with kidney and renal cancers is the
lack of early and often very vague symptoms until the cancer have metastasizes
to other organs. There are no effective treatment options for renal cancers
other than early detection, often found accidentally by X-Ray for other
symptoms such as blood in the urine or pain.
Traditional chemotherapy has little effect if the cancer
spreads beyond the kidneys and carries a 90 percent mortality rate. Why renal
cancers occur is unknown but certain risk factors indicated by scientific
studies include smoking, obesity, long-term dialysis, gender, and occupational
exposure to substance such as Coke from working in the steel industry, exposure
to asbestos or cadmium.
Larry Lynch, 55 from Knoxville, also diagnosed with a
rare and very aggressive form of sarcoma in early October. He underwent surgery
the first week of November 2007. Lynch had his left kidney and spleen removed
along with an eight pound, volleyball-sized cancerous tumor. He is currently
undergoing a trial period of chemotherapy for an extremely rare form of
spontaneous cancer, which destroyed his left kidney and spleen. Doctors do not
know exactly how to treat LarryÕs cancer as there are only 6,000 cases of his
type diagnosed each year. Like Lori Shew, Lynch was also a non-smoker,
non-drinker, very active healthy adult prior to his cancer diagnosis.
Another symptom of many forms of cancer is rapid
weight loss. Larry Lynch had always been thin but began losing weight rapidly,
despite a normal appetite. Because the cancer began on the outside of his left
kidney, Lynch did not have symptoms (such as blood in his urine) and only an
ache in the pit of his stomach. When Lynch began experiencing severe pain in
his ribs, the tumor had already surrounded and displaced all his major organs.
Drugs used for clinical trials were not an option due
to the loss of his spleen, leaving only one treatment option. More research for
cancer of all types is a growing need, especially for renal cancers and other
rare spontaneous cancers that do not respond well to radiation or chemotherapy.
Early detection is crucial but there currently are few warning symptoms or
screenings until symptoms develop in the later stages of the disease.
After having a successful body shop, Carr St. Custom
for many years, Lynch merged his business with Speed Street Custom Builds last
May. The business closed the same day Lynch was dismissed from St. Francis
Hospital in Peoria from his cancer surgery. He has no health insurance and is
unable to work.
A benefit account established for medical and
household expenses for Larry Lynch is located at Tompkins State Bank. P.O. Box
299, Knoxville, IL, 61448. A benefit car cruise, planned for April 26, 2008 will
be at the Knox County Fairgrounds. The car cruise will include a roasted hog,
other food items, live music, raffles and a silent auction for numerous prizes.
Raffle tickets for a $200 cash prize are available by calling 309-337-2891 or
purchased the day of the cruise fundraiser.
03/10/08