kidney cancer
Are you looking for specialists in kidney cancer?
At PRIMO MEDICO you will find exclusively experienced specialist doctors, hospitals and centers specialized in the treatment of kidney cancer in Germany and Switzerland.
Learn about the symptoms, treatment, and chances of recovery from kidney cancer.
Information about kidney cancer
What is kidney cancer?
Kidney cancer is a malignant tumor that arises from the cells of the kidney that multiply out of control and divide, and it is called Grawitz's nephroblastoma and renal cell epithelial carcinoma (NZK).
Frequency and causes of epithelial renal cell carcinoma
Kidney cancer is responsible for 2% of all cancers and the peak incidence is at age 50. Men are affected twice as much as women.
The exact cause of kidney cancer is unknown, but smoking is the main risk factor. Long-term use of pain relievers, occupational pollutants, and kidney abscesses in dialysis cases are also associated with an increased rate of disease.
von-Hippel-Lindau syndrome is a genetic disorder in which one-third of people develop kidney cancer, in 1% of cases, kidney cancer is found in both kidneys, a special type of kidney cancer, which occurs mainly in children, is Wilms' tumor ( glioblastoma).
Kidney cancer symptoms
The most important indication of all tumors in the kidney is urinary bleeding, also called hematuria, 40% of sufferers complain of pain in the flank and colic can occur, again and
again, sometimes the tumor is palpable and there are no early symptoms, which is why kidney cancer often It is discovered by chance during an ultrasound (kidney ultrasound) in asymptomatic patients, and symptoms suggest advanced cancer.
Unclear fever and anemia are non-specific signs that can appear in kidney tumors, as well as fatigue and weight loss.
Sometimes kidney cancer produces hormones, and there are so-called tumor-accompanying syndromes such as excess calcium in the blood, increased blood pressure, increased blood cell count, and impaired liver function.
The tumor can form clots, causing increased pressure in the renal vein or inferior vena cava. This can lead to varicose veins in the testicular veins (varicocele).
The left testicle is particularly affected, if cancer forms metastases, then it travels early in the bloodstream to the lungs, bones, liver, and brain.
Kidney Cancer Treatment
Diagnosis of kidney cancer is confirmed using color Doppler ultrasound and angio-CT. Because renal cell carcinoma metastases are very early, a comprehensive search for metastases should always begin when kidney cancer is diagnosed.
A chest X-ray can rule out lung metastases, and the abdominal cavity, especially the kidneys and liver, can be examined by ultrasound.
Structural scintigraphy excludes bone metastases and the brain can be searched using computerized tomography (CT) scans.
Kidney cancer surgery is the first option
In the case of confirmation of the diagnosis of kidney cancer, an early partial resection of the kidney is performed, but if the tumor size exceeds 7 cm, the entire kidney and its vicinity, phlegmatic nodes, and surrounding connective tissues are removed.
Chemotherapy improves the prognosis, and in the case of single metastases, rarely with the help of surgical excision, in the case of multiple metastases, we resort to palliative treatment, which means relieving symptoms and slowing down the disease if recovery is not expected.
For example, the symptoms of bone metastases can be relieved through radiotherapy and renal arterial coagulation helps In relieving symptoms of urinary bleeding.
If unsuccessful, immunotherapy offers a promising approach to treatment in the future. Currently used only on a palliative basis, but can significantly delay tumor progression and
extend life expectancy, the approach has been cytokine therapy, which is increasingly being replaced by targeted activation of the immune system.
This approach relies on the immune system that can stimulate the surface proteins of cancer cells and then target the cancer cells.
Chances of recovery and life expectancy for kidney cancer
The earlier a tumor is treated, the better its prognosis. One in four patients presents metastases at the time of diagnosis. Lung metastases are easier to diagnose than liver and bone metastases.
If the tumor is confined to the kidney, the 5-year survival rate is up to 90%. In advanced stages, this rate drops to 60%. If lymph nodes are affected or single distant metastases are present, 30% of patients survive in the next five years.
Kidney cancer has the worst prognosis if there are multiple metastases. In this case, the 5-year survival rate is less than 8%.
Wilms' tumor that occurs in children has a promising 5-year survival rate of 90%.
Which doctors and hospitals specialize in kidney cancer in Germany and Switzerland?
Specialists in diagnosing and treating kidney cancer are urologists and nephrologists. While nephrologists are primarily concerned with diagnosing renal cell carcinoma, urologists are responsible for the urinary tract area.
Kidney cancer surgery is mainly performed in specialized urology clinics.
We help you find experts for your condition. All the doctors and clinics mentioned have been evaluated by us for their outstanding specialization in the field of renal cell cancer and are waiting for your questions and treatment wishes.