Facing Kidney Cancer

Our kidneys are among the body’s most critical organs. They filter waste products from the blood, produce urine, and secrete hormones that regulate our blood pressure. However, akidney tumororkidney cancer that develops within the kidney sets in motion a challenging process, both physically and psychologically.

Today, 60–70% of kidney cancers are detected incidentally during an ultrasound or CT scan performed for another reason.Kidney tumors detected at an early stage can be completely cured with appropriate surgery.

In this article:

  • The causes of kidney cancer,
  • Its symptoms and diagnostic methods,
  • Modernminimally invasive treatmentoptions forkidney tumors,
  • The answer to the question,“Can the tumor be removed without removing my kidney?” is,
  • We will discuss laparoscopic surgery,robotic surgery, costs, side effects, and the discharge process in detail at
    .

Causes of Kidney Cancer

Kidney cancer results from a combination of genetic and environmental factors.
The main risk factors are:

  • Smoking– doubles the risk.
  • Obesity—the risk increases significantly, especially among women.
  • Hypertension and certain medications– long-term, uncontrolled high blood pressure.
  • Family history– genetic syndromes (VHL disease, etc.)
  • Occupational exposures—substances such as cadmium and asbestos.

Prof. Dr. Volkan İzolstrongly recommends that his patients quit smoking and adopt a healthy lifestyle:

“When you quit smoking, your risk of kidney cancer decreases over the years. Regular checkups and a healthy lifestyle are the key to early detection.”

Symptoms of Kidney Cancer

It is usually asymptomatic in the early stages. The classic triad consists of the following:

  • Painless bloody urine
  • Lower back or side pain
  • A palpable mass

However, this combination is rare today. Patients usually present with the following symptoms:

  • Recurrent blood in the urine
  • Unexplained weight loss, fatigue
  • Persistent side pain
  • Fever, sweating
  • Uncontrolled high blood pressure

If these symptoms are present, you should consult a urologist.

Diagnostic Methods

For the diagnosis of kidney tumors:

  • Ultrasonography:First step.
  • CT (Computed Tomography):The tumor's size, location, and vascular relationships become clear.
  • MRI:It is the preferred choice, especially if there is vascular involvement.
  • Blood and urine tests:Kidney function and overall health are assessed.

After diagnosis, the tumor stage is determined and a treatment plan is developed.

Can the Tumor Be Removed Without Removing My Kidney?

The question patients are most curious about:
“Can the mass be removed without removing my kidney?”

Yes, this is often possible. For tumors smaller than 7 cm that are in a suitable location, a “partial nephrectomy” is performed to remove only the tumor, while preserving the healthy part of the kidney. This allows for:

  • Kidney function is preserved,
  • The risk of kidney failure decreases,
  • In the long term, the likelihood of needing dialysis decreases.

Partial nephrectomy is now most commonly performed usinglaparoscopicorrobotic surgery.

 

Treatment of Renal Tumors Without Surgery

  1. Laparoscopic Surgery

Laparoscopic surgery is a minimally invasive surgical technique performed by making 3–4 small incisions in the abdomen and using a camera and specialized surgical instruments.

Advantages:

  • Minimal bleeding
  • Less pain
  • Short hospital stay (usually 2–3 days)
  • Early discharge and a quick return to work
  • Small surgical scar

Laparoscopic surgery can be used for both partial (kidney-sparing) and radical (complete removal of the kidney) nephrectomy.

  1. Robotic Surgery

Robotic surgery (the da Vinci system) is an advanced form of laparoscopic surgery. The surgeon performs the procedure from a console using 3D and magnified images. The robotic arms move with much greater precision than the human hand.

Advantages:

  • Excellent view:3D high resolution.
  • High precision:Capable of millimeter-precise stitching.
  • Bleeding control:Safer hemostasis.
  • The duration of kidney protection is short:It reduces the duration of ischemia.

Robotic surgery is considered the gold standard, particularly forpartial nephrectomy.

Prof. Dr. Volkan İzolstates the following on this subject:

“Robotic surgery is the most comfortable and safest method for the minimally invasive treatment of kidney tumors. It is possible to preserve the kidney, completely remove the cancer, and reduce the risk of complications.”

  1. When Is Open Surgery Performed?

Open surgery may be preferred in cases of very large tumors that have spread to surrounding tissues or in cases that are not technically suitable for laparoscopic surgery. However, today more than 80% of patients are suitable for laparoscopic surgery.

Cost

The cost of minimally invasive kidney tumor treatmentvaries depending on the technology used:

  • Laparoscopic surgery is generally less expensive.
  • Robotic surgery is more expensive, but it offers a high degree of surgical precision.
  • Private health insurance plans generally cover these surgeries.

When evaluating costs, preserving long-term kidney health is the most important factor.

Side Effects

The side effects of laparoscopic kidney tumor surgery are much less common than those of open surgery:

  • Mild pain
  • Blood in the urine
  • Rarely an infection
  • A need for blood transfusions is very rare

Most patients return to their normal lives one week after surgery.

Discharge and Recovery Process

After closed surgery:

  • Discharge usually occurs within 2–3 days
  • Return to normal activities within one week
  • Full recovery within 2–3 weeks
  • Because the scar is minimal, it offers aesthetic advantages.

Prof. Dr. Volkan İzol provides his patients with detailed information during the postoperative period and regularly monitors their progress.

Conclusion

Kidney cancer is a disease that can be completely cured when diagnosed early.
Minimally invasive kidney tumor treatment, made possible by laparoscopic and robotic surgical techniques, is an approach that is both effective against cancer and preserves the patient’s quality of life.

With the correct surgical technique:

  • The kidney can be saved,
  • Side effects are minimal,
  • With early discharge, the patient returns to their normal life in a short time.

Prof. Dr. Volkan İzol offers the safest and most modern surgical approach by creating a personalized treatment plan for each patient.