Kidney Cancer, also known as renal cancer, is a chronic disease that originates in the kidneys, usually when the cells grow out of control. To raise awareness on the disease and its related complications, World Kidney Cancer Day is observed across the world on the third Thursday of June every year. This year’s theme, ‘listening,’ underscores the importance of shared decision-making to educate the masses
Dr Dharmender Aggarwal, Consultant, Uro-Oncology and Robotic Surgery at Fortis Hospital Mohali, through a health advisory sheds light on kidney cancer, its causes, warning signs and prevention.
What is kidney cancer?
Stating that the main function of kidneys was to filter out waste from the blood, Dr Aggarwal, added, “Kidneys also help maintain electrolyte levels of sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium etc. They also aid in keeping our blood pressure stable and produce red blood cells. However, sometimes, an abnormal growth or tumour occurs in the kidney. While some kidney masses are benign (not cancerous), some are malignant (cancerous).”
Causes
Discussing the causes of kidney cancer, Dr Aggarwal, said, “The disease is mostly caused due to smoking, obesity, poor diet, high blood pressure, long-term kidney dialysis, exposure to chemicals such as arsenic, hereditary factors etc.”
Warning signs
- Blood in urine (hematuria).
- Abdominal pain and swelling.
- Lump in the abdomen.
- Constant tiredness.
- Unexplained weight loss.
- Fever not caused by cold or flu.
Treatment options
Discussing the procedures to treat kidney cancer, Dr Aggarwal, added, “The main treatment for kidney cancer is surgery. But chemotherapy and radiation therapy may be required in small number of cases. A CT scan, and chest x-ray are usually conducted to determine the spread of the cancer.”
Surgery
- Partial nephrectomy: A surgeon removes the tumour-affected part of the kidney and leaves the healthy part intact. Partial nephrectomy is usually conducted if the kidney tumour hasn’t spread.
- Radical nephrectomy: A surgeon removes the entire kidney and may also remove lymph nodes around it. The procedure is recommended if the kidney tumour is large.
Prevention is better than cure
On ways on how to safeguard oneself from the disease, Dr Aggarwal, said, “Though kidney cancer cannot be prevented, one can lower the risk of contracting the disease by following certain measures. These include abstaining from smoking, controlling hypertension, getting a regular ultrasound done once a year and maintaining a healthy weight.”
