Kidney most cancers, also called renal cell carcinoma, is a kind of cancer that originates within the cells of the kidneys and it’s comparatively widespread and accounts for round 2-3% of all grownup cancers. Traditionally, the remedy for kidney most cancers concerned the entire elimination of the affected kidney however developments in medical expertise have led to the event of kidney-preserving surgical procedures, providing a extra conservative method with out compromising oncological outcomes.

Causes and Prevalence

In an interview with HT Lifestyle, Dr Pradeep Rao, Director and Head of Department Urology at Global Hospital in Mumbai’s Parel, shared, “The exact cause of kidney cancer is not always clear but certain risk factors have been identified. These include smoking, obesity, high blood pressure, and a family history of kidney cancer. Men are at a slightly higher risk than women, and the risk increases with age. Kidney cancer can remain asymptomatic in its early stages, making early diagnosis and intervention crucial.”

Diagnosis

Dr Pradeep Rao revealed, “Diagnosing kidney cancer involves a combination of medical history assessment, physical examination, and diagnostic tests. Imaging techniques such as ultrasound and computed tomography (CT) scans play a pivotal role in identifying abnormalities in the kidneys. These imaging tools can detect tumours at an early stage, allowing for timely intervention. In recent years, advancements in these imaging technologies have significantly improved the accuracy of diagnosis, enabling medical professionals to catch kidney cancer in its early stages.”

Conventional Surgery and Its Drawbacks

Historically, the first remedy for kidney most cancers concerned radical nephrectomy, which is the entire elimination of the affected kidney. Dr Pradeep Rao mentioned, “While this approach has been effective in removing cancerous tissue, it comes with a significant drawback: the loss of kidney function. Removing an entire kidney can lead to long-term health complications, including kidney failure, requiring patients to undergo dialysis or kidney transplantation.”

Emergence of Kidney Preserving Surgeries

According to Dr Pradeep Rao, the medical neighborhood’s rising understanding of the significance of kidney perform has paved the way in which for kidney-preserving surgical procedures, also called nephron-sparing surgical procedures. He asserted that these progressive strategies purpose to take away cancerous tissue whereas preserving as a lot of the wholesome kidney tissue as attainable and this method is especially helpful for sufferers with tumours positioned in a single a part of the kidney or smaller tumours. He highlighted –

• Laparoscopy and Robotic Advancements

Laparoscopy, a minimally invasive surgical method, and robotic-assisted surgical procedure have revolutionized the sector of kidney most cancers remedy. These approaches enable surgeons to exactly goal and take away solely the tumour whereas leaving the unaffected kidney tissue intact. Unlike standard surgical procedures, the place your complete kidney is eliminated, these superior procedures supply a technique to preserve kidney perform and general well being.

• Oncological Outcomes and Recovery

One widespread concern with kidney-preserving surgical procedures is whether or not they compromise oncological outcomes. However, analysis has proven that when carried out by expert surgeons, these procedures have comparable outcomes by way of most cancers management as standard radical nephrectomy. This signifies that sufferers can profit from preserving kidney perform with out compromising their probabilities of beating most cancers.

Furthermore, kidney-preserving surgical procedures carried out laparoscopically or robotic, supply a shorter restoration interval and diminished hospital keep in comparison with radical nephrectomy. Patients expertise much less ache, minimal scarring, and a faster return to their each day actions. This is especially essential for older sufferers and people with pre-existing well being situations who could also be at greater threat for issues.

Dr Pradeep Rao concluded, “The landscape of kidney cancer treatment has evolved significantly in recent years, thanks to innovative technologies and surgical techniques. Kidney-preserving surgeries are changing the paradigm of kidney cancer treatment by providing a more conservative approach that preserves kidney function without sacrificing oncological outcomes. With early diagnosis facilitated by improved imaging technologies, patients now have the opportunity to explore treatments that prioritize their overall health and well-being. As medical advancements continue to unfold, the future of kidney cancer treatment looks promising, promising a better quality of life for patients while effectively addressing the disease.”