Kidney Cancer-It May Be Surprising

According to the latest medical research, kidney cancer is one of the most common cancers in the world. Renal cell carcinoma (RCC), Wilms tumor, and transitional cell carcinoma are the most common types of kidney cancer. Benign kidney tumors come in many forms, but they are not malignant and therefore less at risk. In India, the expected incidence of kidney cancer is about 2 / 100,000 (male) and about 1 / 100,000 (female).

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The main function of the kidneys is to collect waste products and water from the blood and excrete them as urine from the bladder and uterus. The kidney is also an essential endocrine organ for water and salt metabolism, controlling blood pH and helping vitamin D metabolism. Kidney cancer develops when healthy cells are overmuted and form cell clusters. It then develops into a tumor of the kidney. Kidney cancer is fatal because it generally shows signs of slowness after the disease has progressed significantly. Unlike other malignancies such as the prostate, cervix, and breast, there are no approved screening tests for kidney cancer. As a result, it is often unreported and it is important to improve your knowledge of kidney cancer. Kidney cancer symptoms, preventive care, and most importantly, treatment choices. With this in mind The global topic of World Kidney Cancer Awareness Day 2022 – Need to talk about treatment options.

The cause of kidney cancer is unknown, but common risk factors include obesity, smoking, high blood pressure, family history, radiation exposure, genetic mutations, long-term dialysis therapy, tuberous sclerosis, and von Hippellindau disease. The size of the patient’s tumor, the stage of the cancer, gender, age, and other medical history determine the choice of treatment.

Surgery

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In most cases, surgery is usually sufficient to eliminate the cancer, especially if the cancer is detected early and is confined to the kidneys only. However, if the cancer progresses, other options should be considered.

Target therapy

This is usually done when there are certain abnormalities in the tumor. Treatment suppresses these abnormalities and kills the cancer cells. First, a medical diagnosis needs to be made by assessing the cancer cells to determine which target drug is most beneficial.

Immunotherapy

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This is the process of using the body’s immune system to fight cancer. The body’s immune system may not attack the cancer because cancer cells produce proteins that help hide themselves from detection. Immunotherapy works by interfering with this process. Studies have also shown that the immune system is trained to remember cancer cells, demonstrating that this method is also effective for longer-lasting remissions, even after the treatment is complete. ..

Radiation therapy

This type of treatment uses a powerful energy beam (proton or x-ray) to burn / kill cancer cells.

Although kidney cancer identified in the early stages is curable, new advances in advanced cancer treatment are improving and expanding disease management. Although preventative measures can be taken to avoid kidney cancer, the risk is always prevalent due to lifestyle and toxic substance intake. Therefore, it is necessary for each individual to have regular medical examinations and regular consultations with specialists, especially in the age group that is susceptible to such malignant diseases.

About the author: Dr. Raj Nagarkar is responsible for surgical oncology and robotic services at the HCG Manavta Cancer Center. All views / opinions contained in the article belong to the author.