More than half of kidney cancers are diagnosed casually
Written by:Renal cancer is the cause of death of about 65,000 people per 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 because of the symptoms they caused is now history, currently more than half of these tumors are diagnosed in a casual way following requested (ultrasound, CT, etc.) for other reasons.
Only in highly evolved cases, without previous diagnosis, symptoms secondary to the tumor may appear: fatigue, weight loss, discomfort in the lower back and even blood in the urine.
Nowadays, it is more frequent to find tumors of smaller size and, therefore, with better prognosis as to its probability of cure.
Causes of Kidney Cancer
Smoking, obesity and hypertension are factors that increase the likelihood of kidney cancer.
Genetic, environmental factors such as contact with pesticides, workers in contact with cadmium, chronic renal failure, etc.. are factors that also increase the risk of presenting this type of tumors.
Diagnosis of kidney cancer
As previously mentioned, most renal cancers are now diagnosed unexpectedly, due to other reasons, including imaging tests: ultrasounds, scans, MRI, etc. .
In those cases in which the existence of a renal tumor may be suspected previously, confirmation of the diagnosis is also made with this type of analysis. .
Kidney cancer prognosis
The prognosis will depend fundamentally on its stage, that is, on the evolution of the tumor when it is diagnosed. It is easy to understand that the prognosis is not the same for a tumor, found casually and less than 3 cms., Than for a tumor diagnosed in a patient who has lost 10 kg. in the last three months and where we are already metastasized in the liver.
Treatment of kidney cancer
When tumors are located in the kidney, treatment is based on surgery, either with complete removal of the organ or, where possible, removal of the tumor while preserving the rest of the kidney.
Laparoscopic surgery is now the most used because it achieves the same efficiency as conventional surgery but with a lower rate of complications (less bleeding, fewer infections, etc.) as well as a much faster recovery.
In cases indicated, small tumors and elderly patients, the destruction of the tumor by cold "cryotherapy" or "radiofrequency" heat is considered indicated.
On the other hand, if the diagnosis is of renal cancer with metastasis the treatment, in addition to the surgical removal of the same if possible, is complemented by the use of drugs called "antiangiogenic" that can be considered as a specific type of chemotherapy.
For more information consult a specialist in Urology .
