Dubai-UAE: 10 November, 2015 –Forty eight year old, Mr. Arun Verma* presented to a Dubai based Hospital complaining of unexplained weight loss. Routine investigations were carried out and an ultrasound revealed a large tumour in the right kidney. Further investigation included a CT scan which showed an 8 centimeter tumour that was encompassing half of the right kidney.
“The patient had Stage 3 right kidney cancer – at this stage usually treatment involves removing the entire tumour along with affected kidney and surrounding fat by an operation known as radical nephrectomy,” said Dr. Sanjay Bhat, Specialist Urologist at Medeor 24×7 Hospital, Dubai. “If the cancer is detected at Stage 1, only the tumour will usually be removed. In stage 2 and higher stages the kidney and tumour are both removed. Surgical procedures are most effective in the treatment of kidney cancers which usually don not respond to chemotherapy and radiation.”
The Doctor treating patient Verma was not comfortable doing the surgery so the patient decided to go back to his home country, India, for the operation.
“The Doctor treating him was aware that I had a significant experience operating on such patients and so when he heard I was consulting at Medeor 24×7 Hospital, Dubai he referred the patient to me,” said Dr. Bhat. “After we had discussed the surgical procedure, the patient agreed to get operated by me.”
The radical nephrectomy was performed laparoscopically and took just over an hour to complete. The tumour that weighed just over 500grams was removed along with the right kidney. Two days after the surgery, the patient was up and about and could walk around, have a bath and take care of himself.
The advantages of a laparoscopic procedure include quick healing with minimal cosmetic disfigurement and postoperative pain as compared to the conventional open surgery.
“Even though, he has been given the cancer all clear, the tests conducted do not reveal microscopic incidences of cancer so the patient has to undergo an annual CT scan for the next five to six years,” said Dr. Bhat.
Literature on the incidence of kidney cancer rates reveals an overall increase. Statistics from the Cancer Research body of the United Kingdom shows an increase of 132% between 1975-1977 and 2009-2011 amongst European males. Rates have increased by 168% for females between the same period.
“One of the key reasons for this increased rates is the emergence of new imaging methods such as ultrasound and the CT scan,” said Dr. Bhat. “However, the increase of risk factors such as obesity and tobacco consumption is also directly proportional to the increase of kidney cancer rates.”
One of the main symptoms of the type of cancer is blood in the urine.
“The only unexplained symptom patient Verma had was the weight loss. Normally a patient would present with blood in the urine and his urine test did reveal microscopic blood flecks,” said Dr. Bhat. “Normally, people will not take these symptoms as an indication of a serious condition. However, it cannot be stressed enough the importance of consulting a Doctor at the first sign of something amiss.”
“At Medeor 24×7 Hospital, we pride ourselves on having a staff of highly experienced medical professionals and their services are supported by full-fledged state of the art technology and the latest in diagnostic and imaging facilities. It is a reflection of our commitment to providing the residents of Dubai and the surrounding Emirates the best quality medical care,” said Dr. Shajir Gaffar, the CEO of VPS Healthcare for Dubai and the Northern Emirates.
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