Kidney cancer progresses silently and is usually detected incidentally

Yeditepe University Hospitals Urology Specialist Assoc. Prof. Dr. Özgür Yazıcı stated that kidney cancer mostly progresses without symptoms and is incidentally detected during routine imaging.

General Characteristics and Risk Factors of the Disease

Renal cell carcinoma accounts for 3 percent of all cancers and is responsible for the vast majority of kidney cancers. The disease is more common in men, and the risk increases with advanced age.

Smoking, obesity, hypertension, and a family history of kidney cancer are among the risk factors.

Symptoms and Diagnosis Process

Flank pain, blood in the urine, and a mass in the abdomen are classic symptoms, but these findings are quite rare, and when they do appear, the disease is usually at an advanced stage.

Today, the vast majority of kidney tumors are detected incidentally at an early stage using imaging methods such as ultrasound, tomography, and MRI.

Surgical Treatment Methods

Surgery is the most effective treatment method for kidney cancer and forms the basis of treatment in suitable patients.

Laparoscopic and robotic surgical techniques, which have come to the forefront in recent years, provide patients with the advantages of a shorter hospital stay and rapid recovery.

Ways of Prevention and Lifestyle

Staying away from smoking is among the most effective methods in preventing kidney cancer.

Achieving a healthy weight and engaging in regular physical activity are also of great importance in the process of preventing the disease.