Kidney cancer is the cause of death of about 65,000 people a year in Europe, and in Spain about 2,500 people are diagnosed with a kidney tumor each year.
Symptoms of kidney cancer
The time when kidney cancers were diagnosed on the basis of the symptoms they caused is long gone; nowadays more than half of these tumors are diagnosed by chance as a result of scans (ultrasound, CT, etc.) requested for other reasons.
Only in very advanced cases, without prior diagnosis, may symptoms secondary to the tumor appear: fatigue, weight loss, lumbar discomfort and even blood in the urine.
Nowadays it is more common to find smaller tumors and, therefore, with a better prognosis in terms of their probability of cure.
Causes of kidney cancer
Smoking, obesity and hypertension are factors that increase the probability of presenting renal cancer.
Genetic and environmental factors such as contact with pesticides, workers in contact with cadmium, chronic renal insufficiency, etc. are factors that also increase the risk of presenting this type of tumor.
Diagnosis of kidney cancer
As previously mentioned, nowadays most kidney cancers are diagnosed unexpectedly, as a result of check-ups indicated for other reasons and which include the performance of imaging tests: ultrasound scans, scans, magnetic resonance imaging, etc.
In those cases in which the existence of a renal tumor may be previously suspected, confirmation of the diagnosis is also made with this type of analysis.
Prognosis of kidney cancer
The prognosis will depend fundamentally on its stage, that is to say, on how advanced the tumor is when it is diagnosed. It is easy to understand that the prognosis is not the same for a tumor found by chance and smaller than 3 cms. as for a tumor diagnosed in a patient who has lost 10 kgs. in the last three months and where we already find metastases in the liver.
Treatment of kidney cancer
When the tumors are located in the kidney, treatment is based on surgery, either with complete removal of the organ or, in those cases in which it is possible, removal of the tumor while preserving the rest of the kidney.
Laparoscopic surgery is currently the most widely used since it achieves the same efficacy as conventional surgery but with a lower rate of complications (less bleeding, fewer infections, etc.) as well as a much faster recovery.
In indicated cases, small tumors and elderly patients, the destruction of the tumor by cold “cryotherapy” or heat “radiofrequency” is considered indicated.
On the other hand, if the diagnosis is renal cancer with metastasis, the treatment, in addition to surgical removal if possible, is complemented with the use of drugs called “antiangiogenic” that can be considered as a specific type of chemotherapy.
For more information consult a specialist in Urology.