Kidney Cancer Specialists in Karnataka
Kidney cancer (renal cell carcinoma) originates in the kidneys. Renal cell carcinoma is the most common type. It often shows no symptoms in early stages and is …
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What is Kidney Cancer?
Kidney cancer (renal cell carcinoma) originates in the kidneys. Renal cell carcinoma is the most common type. It often shows no symptoms in early stages and is frequently discovered incidentally during imaging for another condition.
Severe
Approximately 431,000 new cases and 179,000 deaths annually worldwide
No
Causes of Kidney Cancer
Smoking (doubles the risk), obesity, high blood pressure, family history of kidney cancer, long-term dialysis, von Hippel-Lindau disease, occupational exposure to cadmium or asbestos
Symptoms of Kidney Cancer
Blood in urine (hematuria), back pain just below the ribs, lump on back or side, fatigue, unexplained weight loss, intermittent fever, loss of appetite, anemia
Treatment & Types of Kidney Cancer in Karnataka
Surgery (partial or radical nephrectomy — removal of part or whole kidney) is primary treatment. Targeted therapy (sunitinib, pazopanib), immunotherapy (nivolumab, pembrolizumab), ablation therapies for small tumors.
Kidney cancer is most commonly renal cell carcinoma, which itself includes several subtypes, clear cell, papillary, and chromophobe being the main ones, with clear cell the most frequent. A less common type, transitional cell carcinoma, arises from the lining of the kidney's collecting system rather than the kidney tissue itself, and Wilms tumour is a distinct type that occurs almost exclusively in young children.
Urology/Oncology Specialists in Karnataka (0)
No specialists listed yet in Karnataka — browse all doctors instead.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is kidney cancer hereditary?
Most cases are not directly inherited, but a family history of kidney cancer and certain genetic conditions like von Hippel-Lindau disease meaningfully raise risk, so family history should be mentioned to your doctor.
Why is kidney cancer often found by accident?
Early kidney cancer typically causes no symptoms, so it's frequently discovered incidentally during imaging performed for an unrelated reason, which is one reason routine checkups matter for people with risk factors like smoking or long-term dialysis.
Can kidney cancer be cured if caught early?
Yes, surgical removal of part or all of the affected kidney offers a high chance of cure when the cancer is confined to the kidney, making early detection important.
Will I need dialysis after kidney cancer surgery?
Most people retain enough kidney function after a partial nephrectomy or even removal of one whole kidney, since the remaining kidney can usually compensate, though kidney function should be monitored afterward.
What newer treatments exist for advanced kidney cancer?
Targeted therapies like sunitinib and pazopanib, along with immunotherapy drugs such as nivolumab and pembrolizumab, have significantly improved outcomes for kidney cancer that has spread beyond the kidney.