Kidney Cancer

WHAT IS KIDNEY CANCER?

Kidney cancer is a disease in which kidney cells become malignant (cancerous) and grow out of control, forming a tumor. In other words, kidney cancer is caused by abnormal growth of cells in the kidneys. Almost all kidney cancers first appear in the lining of small tubes (tubules) in the kidney. This type of kidney cancer is called renal cell carcinoma.

HOW IS KIDNEY CANCER DIAGNOSED?

Since kidney cancer is usually asymptomatic, that is, it may not cause symptoms, the tumor is most often detected when the patient undergoes a medical test for another reason. In other words, during ultrasound and computed tomography examinations performed in any complaint of the patient, a kidney tumor that he was never aware of can be detected while the disease is still at an early stage. For example, when a patient goes to the doctor with a gallbladder complaint and is referred for an ultrasound by an internal medicine specialist, the probability of catching a kidney tumor that develops during ultrasound is quite high.

Computed Tomography (CT) and MRI scans are usually the only tests that doctors need to diagnose kidney cancer. Sometimes doctors also perform a method known as percutaneous biopsy if they need more information about a tumor before recommending a treatment. During this procedure, the doctor numbs the skin using local anesthesia. He then uses a small needle to pull out part of the tissue.

Doctors may use CT scans or ultrasound (the use of sound waves to create an image on a computer monitor) to determine the location of the tumor and guide the insertion and withdrawal of the needle. A pathologist, a doctor who studies diseases in the laboratory, examines tissue samples under a microscope for signs of cancer.

Urine tests do not diagnose kidney cancer, but a doctor may want to see if there is blood in the urine, which is a common symptom of advanced kidney cancer. Blood tests, on the other hand, help doctors determine whether the kidneys are working properly, but they are not used to diagnose kidney cancer.

HOW IS THE TREATMENT FOR KIDNEY CANCER?

Options for kidney cancer treatment may depend on a number of factors, including the type of kidney cancer the patient has along with his overall health, whether the cancer has spread, and treatment preferences. The standard method for the treatment of kidney cancer is surgery. The goal of the surgical procedure is to eliminate cancer by maintaining normal kidney function whenever possible. Taking into account the stage of the cancer, the size of the mass, in which area of the kidney the mass is located and its number, the entire kidney or only the mass is removed by a closed method. If the cancer has spread beyond the kidney, additional October treatments may be recommended.

Full () a radical nephrectomy removes the entire kidney, lymph nodes, and sometimes the border of healthy tissue, the adrenal glands, such as additional or other structures involves the removal of tissues nearby.

The surgeon can perform a nephrectomy from a single incision in the abdomen or on the side (open nephrectomy) or a series of small incisions in the abdomen (laparoscopic or robotically assisted laparoscopic nephrectomy).

Removal of the tumor from the kidney (partial nephrectomy)

This procedure, also called kidney-sparing or nephron-sparing surgery, is a common treatment method for early-stage tumors. Kidney preventive surgery aims to preserve kidney function as much as possible and reduce the risk of later complications such as kidney disease and the need for dialysis.

The effectiveness of non-surgical treatments such as chemotherapy and radiation therapy in the treatment of kidney cancer is low.

Immunotherapy iv works to strengthen your body’s own immune system. Immunotherapy is a treatment option for people with advanced kidney cancer. Cytokines (proteins that activate the immune system) can be given intravenously or orally and can shrink cancer. In addition, targeted therapies for advanced kidney cancers can also be applied. Targeted therapies target specific molecules. Targeted therapeutic drugs are usually given in tablet form or intravenously. Tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) have been tried in people with advanced kidney cancer and have been found to cause fewer side effects than chemotherapy drugs.

Note: Da Vinci Robotic Surgery provides great advantages to the patient in kidney tumor surgeries. In cases such as partial kidney removal or removal of the tumor part of the kidney, the problem is solved by entering the abdomen with 4-5 holes, separating the tumor tissue, without the need for a large surgical incision, without compromising oncological and surgical principles.