Renal cell carcinoma
Early detection and treatment
Renal cell carcinoma (kidney cancer) usually occurs from the age of 60.
Risk factors
Various factors can increase the risk of renal cell carcinoma:
- Smoking
- Overweight
- High blood pressure
- Chronic kidney disease
- Family history
- Certain genetic syndromes (e.g. von Hippel-Lindau syndrome)
Symptoms
In the early stages, renal cell carcinoma often causes no symptoms. Possible signs can be
- Blood in the urine (even in small quantities)
- Pain in the kidney area
- Weight loss
- Fever
- Anemia
- Fatigue
These symptoms can also occur with other illnesses, but they should be taken seriously as warning signs. It is important to consult a doctor promptly if you have such complaints.
Diagnostics: How is renal cell carcinoma detected?
Thanks to modern imaging techniques such as ultrasound and computer tomography, many renal cell carcinomas are now detected at an early stage. This often enables early diagnosis, which is crucial for successful treatment.
Treatment options
The treatment of renal cell carcinoma depends on the stage of the disease:
- Locally confined tumor: Depending on its size and location, a tumor can be removed while preserving the organ so that kidney function is largely retained. Alternatively, a complete kidney removal may be necessary.
- Advanced stage: If the renal pelvis or vessels are infiltrated, the affected kidney is usually removed completely.
- Metastatic stage: Modern systemic therapy, such as immunotherapy or targeted drugs, is often used here. Systemic therapy can of course be combined with local therapies (radiotherapy, surgery, radiofrequency ablation, ...) in carefully selected cases.
Prevention and early detection
To reduce your risk, I recommend that you:
- Not to smoke
- Paying attention to a healthy body weight
- Have high blood pressure treated
- Regular preventive medical check-ups
Conclusion
As an oncologist, your health is important to me. Early diagnosis of renal cell carcinoma offers the best chance of successful treatment. Make an appointment at my practice – together we will take care of your health.