Kidneys are organs that are responsible for clearing waste materials from the blood and excess water and salt in the body, located in our two cavities. Cancers that originate from here are called kidney cancer. Kidney cancer is divided into two as cancers originating from the urine producing part of the kidney (parenchyma) and the pool where urine is collected (collecting system).
In Who Is Kidney Parenchymal Cancer Common? makes up about 3%. The male-to-female ratio is 2:1 and is most commonly seen between the ages of 50-60. It is known that kidney cancer is more common in patients with some congenital kidney diseases (such as horseshoe kidney, polycystic kidney disease) and some systemic diseases (such as von Hippel-Lindau syndrome). is seen. In addition, it is reported that excessive use of painkillers increases the risk of kidney parenchymal cancer. sort of. Men are twice as likely to develop kidney cancer than women. Risk factors can be classified as:
1- Environmental or work-related risk factors:
- Smoking
- Painkillers containing phenacetin
- Asbestos workers
- Workers in the cadmium business
2- Family transmission: It has been reported that the incidence of kidney tumors is increased in families with tuberous sclerosis or Von Hippel Lindau Disease.
Bilateral features of familial kidney tumors
3- Diet and weight: Some studies have reported that those who eat fat and fatty foods have a higher risk of kidney cancer.
4- Hypertension (High Blood Pressure) How to Determine the Diagnosis of Kidney Cancer?
Visible bleeding in the urine, flank pain and palpable mass, known as the classic triad, are seen in only 10-15% of patients. Many cases are detected incidentally during imaging performed for any reason. ; for example, cough and shortness of breath in lung metastases, bone pain or fracture in bone metastases. These complaints can help the diagnosis.
Computerized tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance (MRI) imaging can help the diagnosis in patients with suspected renal collecting system cancer. However, sometimes a method such as reaching the kidney through the urinary tract with a flexible ureteroscope and taking a biopsy from the tumor may be required to make the diagnosis. In small tumors, it is possible to treat the tumor with laser with this method.
With the widespread use of imaging methods, the rate of incidentally diagnosed kidney cancers is increasing. Today, it is reported that 3/4 of kidney cancers are diagnosed incidentally.
How Does Kidney Cancer Spread?
Kidney cancers most commonly metastasize (spread) to the lung. Less frequently, the cancer may spread to the liver, bones, adrenal gland, brain, and lymph nodes.
The larger the tumor, the greater the risk of metastasis. If the physician deems it necessary, the diagnosis is clarified by examinations such as chest X-rays, bone scintigraphy, positron emission tomography.
What are the Symptoms of Renal Collecting System Cancer (Pelvis Renalis Tumor)?
Renal collecting system cancer is rare. . Collecting system cancers, known as pelvic renalis and ureter tumors, have a similar histologic structure to bladder cancers. It is known that smoking and exposure to certain chemicals pose a risk for the formation of kidney collecting system cancer.
Most of the patients notice bleeding in the urine. Sometimes this bleeding may be accompanied by clots. Flank pain, nausea and vomiting are uncommon symptoms.
How to Treat Kidney Cancer?
Staging is done before starting treatment. Treatment planning is made according to the staging result in which the size and extent of the cancer are determined.
1. In stage 2, the tumor is smaller than 7 cm in kidney cancer and its borders are inside the kidney. It has spread to lymph nodes.
In stage 4, cancer le Along with the nf glands, it has spread to distant organs such as bones, lungs and liver.
Surgical treatment is the main treatment in kidney cancer. The most common type of surgery is radical nephrectomy. In this surgery, the kidney and all surrounding tissues are removed. Apart from this, instead of removing the entire kidney in small tumors located in only one part of the kidney or in those with only one kidney with tumor, only the tumorous tissue removal, called partial nephrectomy, can be performed today. It is not possible to perform this procedure in all kidney tumors. Since kidney tumor surgery, which is a major surgery, may not be able to be carried by every body, the decision on this issue should be made by the doctor, patient and patient relatives together.
Chemotherapy means giving cancer drugs orally or intravenously to the patient. Today, significant improvement can be achieved in kidney tumors with newly developed chemotherapeutic drugs.
Radiation rays in radiotherapy kill cancer cells. Radiation therapy is applied as an additional treatment for those who undergo surgery or as the main treatment for those whose general condition cannot afford surgical treatments. It is also used in the treatment of complaints such as bleeding and pain due to spread (metastases) in advanced cancers. Even in case of doubt, it is one of the diseases that need to be acted on immediately for diagnosis and treatment. The doctor, the patient and the patient's relatives should decide together for the treatment.
How is the Control After the Treatment of Kidney Cancer?
After the treatment, the body needs time to recover itself. After the surgery, side effects such as tingling in the hands and feet, pain, numbness, difficulty in concentration, and fatigue can be seen for a while. In this case, it is necessary to inform the doctor.
Also, regular check-ups after treatment for prevention should not be neglected. Care should be taken to comply with healthy life criteria such as nutrition, exercise and stress reduction, and smoking should not be used.
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