Kidney cancer, as well as other pathologic changes urinary system. Malignant lesions are very insidious, as they are latent in the initial stages, i.e. without visible signs. Malignant lesions are very insidious, as in the initial stages they proceed latently, that is, without visible signs. Detect the pathological process is possible only through quality diagnostics with the use of modern equipment. We advise you to apply exclusively to German medical centers. Kidney cancer treatment in Germany has a lot of advantages: unique treatment methods, organ preservation, individual and attentive approach to each case, comfortable therapy conditions, qualified specialists with many years of experience. Separately, it is worth noting the effective methods of rehabilitation, which help to avoid recurrences.
The disease severely reduces the quality of life patient in all aspects, both physically and mentally. If you hear about the presence of a disappointing diagnosis, you should not give up. Even at the fourth stage of the disease can be cured and return to the usual way of life. It is very important to start therapy as soon as you learn about the disease.
Diagnosis of kidney cancer in Germany
Germany has all the necessary equipment to detect the pathological process even at the initial stage of development. To begin with, the specialist collects anamnesis, finds out what symptoms bother the patient, how long ago the first symptoms were detected, when the patient first learned about the diagnosis, etc. Diagnosis is carried out by a highly qualified urologist. The doctor must necessarily familiarize himself with the patient’s medical history and find out whether there are concomitant pathologies. Then the doctor conducts palpation of the kidneys and neighboring organs. Next, a full laboratory and instrumental diagnostics is carried out, which consists of the following:
- Dilated blood work. In the presence of malignant neoplasms in the body, there is a significant decrease in red blood cells and pronounced anemia.
- Urine collection (total analysis, unfolded). With cancer of this organ, if it is a neglected stage, the naked eye can notice an admixture of blood. A detailed analysis reveals an increased number of leukocytes.
- Abdominal ultrasound.
- Radiography of the organ from four sides.
- Abdominal examination with magnetic resonance imaging, if necessary with contrast agent to clearly determine the localization of the tumor, its structure and features of the structure.
- Collection of biological material (biopsy). This is necessary to confirm the malignancy of the neoplasm.
- Review urography.
If the patient has complaints about other organs, such as the respiratory system, additional procedures such as fluoroscopy or X-rays of the lungs are performed. Sometimes these procedures are performed to rule out metastases in the respiratory tract.
For the record! Specialists of German clinics build a tactic to combat the disease after a qualitative examination of the body. The treatment is started only after the final diagnosis is made and the stage of the pathological process is determined.
Treatment methods for kidney cancer in Germany
Once confirmed by German specialists, a treatment plan is negotiated. As a rule, German clinics provide comprehensive treatment. In this way, the disease can be defeated and the risks of recurrences and complications can be reduced. Let’s consider each method in detail.
- Medication treatment. This method is not able to defeat the disease, some drugs help to slow down the disease and prevent the multiplication of pathogenic cells. Medications are used throughout the course of treatment. Their advantage is the low probability of side effects and destruction of «bad» cells at the molecular level.
- Immunotherapy. Patients are prescribed medications to increase immunity and body defenses, this helps significantly easier to tolerate chemotherapy, which is an obligatory component of the fight against pathology. The drugs are prescribed either in tablets or in injections.
- Surgical intervention. Practically, surgery is required in every case. Depending on the severity of the lesion, the necessary technique is determined. If the size of the tumor focus does not exceed four centimeters — kidney resection is performed, that is, only the pathologically altered tissue is removed, leaving the organ intact. If the formation is extensive, exceeds 4 centimeters or has a more complex structure — it is necessary nephrectomy, which implies complete removal of the organ.
Radical nephrectomy
A brief summary of the operation’s progress. Depending on the size of the pathology focus and its localization in the organ, the surgeon makes an incision along the midline of the abdomen, subcostal arch or on the back. The kidney is removed completely along with the adrenal gland, nearby lymph nodes and fatty tissue. Although removal of the adrenal glands is part of a standard radical nephrectomy, the surgeon may not remove them if the cancer is in the lower part of the kidney.
If the renal and inferior vena cava veins are affected, it may be necessary to stop the heart for a while. For this purpose, the patient is connected to a heart-lung machine and the blood is circulated bypassing the heart. The cardiac surgeon performs all cardiac arrest procedures.
Laparoscopic nephrectomy and robot-assisted laparoscopic nephrectomy.
These are two new approaches to surgery. They are performed using several small incisions instead of one large one. Unless there are contraindications, many doctors and patients prefer them.
For laparoscopic nephrectomy special instruments are used that are inserted through 1.27 cm incisions. One of the instruments is a laparoscope, which is a long tube with a small video camera at the end. It allows the surgeon to see inside the abdominal cavity.
A newer approach is laparoscopic surgery using a robotic system.
The surgeon sits on a panel next to the operating table and controls the robotic arms performing the surgery. The robotic system provides greater maneuverability and precision in moving instruments than standard laparoscopic surgery.
But the most important factor in the success of any type of laparoscopic surgery is the experience and skill of the surgeon. This is a complex type of surgery that is not easy to learn. If you are considering this type of surgery, be sure to find a surgeon with extensive experience performing this type of surgery.
The laparoscopic method in surgery is used to remove those neoplasms in the kidneys that cannot be partially resected. Success is largely determined by the skills of the surgeon. If the skills of the specialist are high, the result of the operation is less severe postoperative pain syndrome, a short hospitalization period and rapid recovery.
Partial nephrectomy
Refers to a gentle method of surgery.
The conditions of its fulfillment: early and the tumor is less than 4 cm.
Advantage — preserving kidney function to a greater degree.
Many surgeons prefer to perform partial nephrectomy laparoscopically or use a robot. But again, it’s a complicated operation and should be done by a surgeon with a lot of experience.
Chemotherapy. You can’t do without it, it destroys cancer cells. For this purpose, intravenous drugs, injections or tablets are used (depends on the individual characteristics of the body and the severity of the condition). The combination of drugs can prevent the development of metastases, stop the growth of pathogenic cells and reduce the development of recurrence, almost to zero.
It’s important! In clinics of Germany performs complete kidney removal only in extreme cases, when other techniques fail to achieve a positive result.
Cost of kidney cancer treatment in Germany
Cost of kidney cancer treatment in Germany depends on the stage of the disease, the general condition of the patient, associated pathological processes, individual characteristics, as well as the selected therapy.
| Name of service | Price, € | Optional |
|---|---|---|
| Diagnostics | 1800–3000 | 5 days, outpatient |
| Partial kidney removal (laparoscopic nephrectomy) | 8000–10500 | 5 days inpatient |
| Laparoscopic removal of kidney with ureter nephrectomy with ureterectomy | 8000–10500 | 7 days, inpatient |
Symptoms of kidney cancer
As long as the size of the tumor is minimal, there are no visible signs, pathology can be detected only during routine examination of the organ with the help of instrumental diagnostics. From the first symptoms the following manifestations can be emphasized:
- The urine has changed color, becoming pinkish or reddish, or a mixture of blood and mucus is clearly visible.
- Irregular manifestation of painful sensations of a nagging character in the lumbar region.
- The temperature rises periodically to 37.5 degrees Celsius.
In some cases, patients complain of problems with urination: urine comes out in small portions or there is a sharp pain when trying to empty. As a rule, these symptoms are characteristic of stage 3-4 of the pathological process. Later stages are characterized by a constant increase in body temperature to the level of subfebrile marks. In the future, in the absence of medical care, such signs are observed:
- Constant weakness.
- Increased sweating.
- Decline of strength.
- Abrupt weight loss.
- Lack of appetite.
- A pronounced pallor of the skin.
- Increased blood pressure.
The presence of metastases gives additional symptoms, which, depending on their localization, can be completely different: an unreasonable cough, pain in the peritoneum, frequent headaches, dizziness, back or spinal pain, the appearance of subcutaneous swelling, which can be seen with the naked eye.
Stages of kidney cancer
In medicine, it is customary to classify the disease by stages, each of which has individual features, localization and size:
- Stage one. It develops very slowly. This stage can last up to six months. The tumor is localized exclusively inside the kidney, there are no metastases, the size of the neoplasm does not exceed three centimeters.
- Second. It develops more actively, the growth of the neoplasm is more intense, the size of the tumor does not exceed 7 centimeters. The disease does not go beyond the borders of the organ, still the tumor is localized in the kidney. Gradually the first symptoms are manifested.
- Three. The pathogenic cells penetrate the major blood vessels as well as the lymph nodes. Nearby tissues are still unaffected. Most of the neoplasm is localized in the kidney. The size does not exceed ten centimeters.
- Fourth. In 70% of cases, the presence of metastases to neighboring organs is noted. The size is more than 11 centimeters.
It’s important! The earlier you start fighting the pathology, the higher the chances of a complete cure and a return to a normal way of life. The treatment of kidney cancer in Germany is actively improving, and today even the most complicated cases can be overcome diseases.
How to choose the right clinic?
It is not easy to choose a clinic, as it is necessary to have reliable information on the statistics of cases with positive results. It is even more difficult to find a specialist with a good theoretical basis and extensive experience in specialized surgery. Sources of up-to-date information about both clinics and specialists cannot be found on the Internet. Such information is available only to those who are directly involved in the treatment process and can observe the results of each specialist’s treatment activities, i.e. insider knowledge of those who treat kidney cancer is needed:
- urologic surgeon: a doctor who specializes in treating diseases of the urinary and male reproductive system;
- radiation oncologist: a doctor, who treats with radiation therapy;
- медицинский онколог: a doctor who treats cancer with drugs, chemotherapy, or targeted therapy.
Having trouble choosing a clinic and a specialist?
Contact us! Our company will help you to find a medical center tailored to your individual needs. We have the latest and most objective insider information about the level of work of specialists and clinics in Munich. We solve all organizational issues independently, saving you from unnecessary problems. We carry out our activities in such a way that they provide you with comfort and convenience and save you the effort of fighting the disease.
The success of kidney cancer treatment is due to timely contact with a qualified oncologist. Make an appointment with a specialist as soon as you know about the diagnosis. Do not delay, every day is crucial in this disease. Remember that the examination of the kidneys as a preventive measure will help to detect the disease even at the initial stage. In this case, you can do with minimal surgical intervention and return to normal life as soon as possible.