Best Kidney Cancer Treatment in Mumbai

Best Kidney Cancer Treatment in Mumbai

Is Kidney Cancer Curable? Symptoms, Causes, Risk Factors, Treatment and Outlook

The number of people being diagnosed with kidney cancer is increasing across the world, emphasizing an urgent need to address this significant global health trend. Latest data from the World Cancer Research Fund showed that India ranks sixth worldwide in terms of kidney cancer incidence. Kidney cancer or renal cancer can affect people of all ages, although it’s more common in older adults. If you’re diagnosed with kidney cancer, experts at Fortis Hospital, Mulund, can provide the care you need. Our internationally recognized kidney specialists offer the latest treatments for both adults and children facing renal cancer, increasing your chances for better outcomes.

Why Choose Fortis Hospital, Mulund, for Kidney Cancer Care?

At Fortis Hospital, Mulund, you are the focus of a world-class team of experts with extensive experience in diagnosing and treating kidney cancers, including the most complex cases. We provide:

• Comprehensive, personalized care – in a compassionate environment
• Team-based care – from experienced specialists, including urologists, medical and radiation oncologists, radiologists, pathologists, and other medical professionals who work as a team to ensure you receive the best care possible
• A full range of the latest treatment options – both surgical and nonsurgical treatments for all types of kidney cancer
• Unparalleled surgical expertise – from our highly skilled urological surgeons who use advanced techniques, such as robotic surgery, for nephrectomy procedures to minimize complications and deliver excellent outcomes

Keep reading to learn more about kidney cancer, including the symptoms, causes, possible risk factors, diagnosis, treatment options, and outlook.

What is Kidney Cancer and How Does It Happen?

Kidney cancer is an abnormal growth of cells that starts in the kidney tissue. The kidneys are a pair of organs located on each side of the spine. Their main function is to filter waste and excess fluids from your blood to make urine. Your kidneys also help regulate blood pressure and make red blood cells.

Kidney cancer occurs when healthy cells in one or both kidneys grow and divide uncontrollably, forming a mass called tumor. The tumor can invade surrounding tissues and organs, eventually spreading to other parts of the body. Kidney cancer can occur in various types, which differ in how they develop and change over time.

The main types of kidney cancer include:

• Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) or renal cell cancer – it starts in the cells lining the renal tubules (tiny tubes in the kidney), and is by far the most common type of kidney cancer. It accounts for about 85% of all malignant kidney tumors in adults. RCC is classified into different subtypes, with clear cell renal cell carcinoma (CCRCC) as the most common type.
• Transitional cell cancer or urothelial carcinoma – originates in the cells lining of the ureter or renal pelvis, the area where your ureter and kidney meet.
• Wilms tumor – the most common type of kidney cancer affecting children, and in rare cases, it can occur in older adolescents and adults. 

What are the Signs and Symptoms of Kidney Cancer?

Kidney cancer may not cause any noticeable symptoms in its early stages. That’s why most people are diagnosed by chance when an imaging test, such as an ultrasound or CT scan, is performed for some other condition. As the tumor grows, you may have symptoms, including:

• Low back pain that doesn’t go away
• A lump in the abdomen or side
• Blood in urine
• Recurring fevers
• Fatigue
• Losing weight without trying
• Loss of appetite
• Swelling in the legs or ankles
• Anemia

You should consult a doctor if you have any symptoms that concern you.

What Causes Kidney Cancer?

It’s unclear why cells in the kidneys change and become cancerous, however, certain things have been linked to a higher risk of getting kidney cancer. 

Risk factors for kidney cancer include:

• Older age
• Being male
• Smoking
• A family history of kidney cancer
• Being overweight or obese
• High blood pressure
• Long-term dialysis
• Kidney stones
• Certain inherited conditions, such as von Hippel-Lindau disease and Birt -Hogg- Dube syndrome
• Long-term use of pain-relieving medicines
• Exposure to certain substances at the workplace, such as asbestos, herbicides, and cadmium

How is Kidney Cancer Diagnosed?

Your doctor will conduct a physical examination and ask questions about your personal and family medical history, especially if you have symptoms that signal kidney cancer. They will run some tests to find the cause of your problem. At Fortis Hospital, Mulund, our experts use the latest diagnostic technologies to pinpoint the type and stage of your kidney tumor.

The following tests and procedures may be used to diagnose or rule out kidney cancer:

• Blood work and urine tests -

  To find out the possible causes of your symptoms. Blood tests can reveal if you have a healthy number of blood cells and how well your kidneys are functioning. Urine tests, such as a urinalysis, may look for the presence of blood, bacteria, or cancer cells in your urine.

• Imaging tests –

   Such as ultrasound, CT scan, PET scan, and MRI scan, to see inside your kidneys to determine the presence and extent of a kid ney cancer.

• Renal biopsy – 

   If imaging tests reveal a kidney tumor, your doctor will remove a small portion of the suspicious growth, using a thin needle. The    sample is then sent to the lab for microscopic examination to confirm the presence of cancer cells.

Grading and Staging of Kidney Cancer

If test results confirm a kidney cancer, your doctor will try to find out how quickly the tumor might grow (grading, usually from 1 to 4) and whether the tumor has spread within the kidney or to other parts of the body (staging), using information from various tests. This is crucial for planning your treatment. Kidney cancer stages range from 1 to 4 – a stage 1 tumor is small and confined within the kidney, whereas a stage 4 tumor has spread to distant parts of the body.

How is Kidney Cancer Treated?

The primary treatment for kidney cancer is surgery, offering the highest chance of a cure when the tumor is localized and has not spread. At Fortis Hospital, Mulund, your treatment will be customized to your overall health and specific needs to achieve the best possible outcome. Our specialists will discuss options with you to create the best treatment plan based on the type, grade and stage of kidney cancer you have, as well as other factors like your age, preferences, and any other health conditions you might have. 

Treatment options for kidney cancer include:

Surgery: You may need surgery only if the tumor is confined to the kidney. Sometimes, other treatments, such as radiation therapy, may be given after surgery to destroy any remaining cancer cells or reduce the chance of cancer coming back.

The main types of kidney cancer surgery include:

• Partial nephrectomy or kidney-sparing surgery – removing smaller tumors (only the part of the affected kidney) along with a small margin of nearby healthy tissue, while sparing the kidney as much as possible. This procedure may be an option for people with only one kidney and is a preferred choice over radical nephrectomy for localized tumors to preserve more kidney function and reduce the risk of later complications.
• Radical nephrectomy – removing the entire diseased kidney and some healthy tissue around it, as well as the adrenal gland and nearby lymph nodes in some cases. Most people can live with only one kidney.

The expert kidney cancer surgeons at Fortis Hospital, Mulund, perform both traditional open surgery and laparoscopic or robot-assisted minimally invasive surgery. Minimally invasive techniques enable surgeons to perform the procedure with a high degree of precision, offering several advantages over open surgical procedures, including less pain and a faster recovery. 

Your surgeon will recommend the type and approach of surgery that’s best for you. 

• Tumor ablation: If you’re not a candidate for surgery, your doctor might use cold gases (cryoablation) to freeze the tumor or high-energy waves (radiofrequency ablation) to heat cancer cells. Tumor ablation can treat small, localized tumors with minimal impact on healthy kidney tissue.
• Radiation therapy: Radiation therapy may be used to shrink the kidney tumor cells if you can’t have surgery, as well as relieve symptoms, such as pain.
• Targeted therapy: This treatment attacks specific chemicals that help cancer cells thrive. Targeted therapy is often used to manage advanced kidney cancer that has spread to other parts of the body. In some cases, targeted therapies may also be given after surgery to lower the risk of cancer returning.
• Immunotherapy: This type of treatment stimulates the body’s immune system to kill or slow the growth of cancer cells.
• Chemotherapy: Most kidney cancers don’t respond well to chemo drugs. Hence, chemotherapy is not a standard treatment for renal cancer, and it’s only used in rare cases when other treatments haven’t worked.

What is the Outlook for Kidney Cancer?

The outlook or prognosis is different for everyone, as it will depend on multiple factors – such as the type and stage of kidney cancer you have, the rate of tumor growth, as well as your age and general health. Your recovery also depends on how your body responds to treatment. For instance, patients whose kidney cancers are detected in the early stages have a higher chance of a cure.

Can Kidney Cancer be Prevented?

There’s no guaranteed way to prevent kidney cancer, but you can reduce your risk by taking simple steps, such as:

• Eating a healthy diet with a variety of fruits and vegetables
• Exercising most days of the week
• Maintaining a healthy weight
• Not smoking or quitting smoking
• Not drinking alcohol or drinking in moderation, if at all
• Managing certain health conditions, including high blood pressure and diabetes

Takeaway

A kidney cancer diagnosis can be frustrating and overwhelming for patients and their families. But kidney cancer, if it’s caught early and removed before it grows beyond the organ’s boundaries, has a high chance of a cure. Being aware of certain risk factors and making healthier lifestyle choices can help prevent or reduce your risk of developing the disease. You should seek medical help right away if you have any concerning symptoms, such as blood in your pee or consistent low back pain. Remember, the earlier the disease is caught, the better the outcome.