The TV presenter Paola Perego revealed on Instagram of having been operated on for a kidney tumor: “A partial nephrectomy for a neoplasm. It is important to always do a lot of prevention, it can save lives”, wrote the presenter of the “Citofonare Raidue” program a few hours after the broadcast. It is the same neoplasm that she had affected Michela Murgiawhich in that case was in an advanced stage.
Kidney cancer, the disease Michela Murgia suffered from by Tiziana Moriconi 10 August 2023
Early stage kidney cancer
“It is estimated that around 55% of patients discover the tumor at an early stage, when it is still confined to the kidney – he comments Albert Lapini, Past President of the Italian Society of Uro-Oncology (SIUrO) -. In these cases, through partial or total removal of the organ, we are able to cure 50% of our patients. Conservative surgery, which can be performed through “open” surgery, laparoscopically or robot-assisted – is the elective surgical treatment for early-stage renal tumors: it guarantees oncological radicality, and therefore the removal of the neoplastic tissue, allowing the almost unaltered preservation of renal function. Only in those cases in which preservation of the kidney is not possible is radical nephrectomy performed, usually laparoscopically given the less invasive nature of the procedure.”
Urological tumors, increased by 12% in 10 years by Tiziana Moriconi 05 October 2023
Incidence and survival
For 2023, 12,700 cases of kidney cancer are estimated in Italy: 7,900 among men and 4,800 among women, and five-year survival stands at 71%. Half of the time it is discovered by chance, often through clinical tests carried out for other health problems: “Early diagnosis is essential to defeat this tumor but unfortunately it is still difficult, and in 30% of patients the disease is already in an advanced stage or metastatic – he adds Sergio Bracarda, SIUrO National President – For these more difficult to treat cases, in recent years we have achieved important progress thanks to the introduction of immunotherapy and targeted therapies. Disease control and long-term survival rates have significantly increased thanks to drug combinations.”
Kidney cancer, chronicity is increasingly possible by Dario Rubino 06 June 2023
Smoking and being overweight are among the major risk factors
Among the known risk factors, cigarette smoking and poor lifestyles play an important role, as recalled by Siuro, who shares Paola Perego’s appeal on the importance of prevention: smoking, in particular, doubles the risk , while more than 30% of all cases recorded in Europe are attributable to overweight and obesity.
Tumors: 4,000 deaths avoided in Italy in 11 years thanks to immuno-oncology 20 November 2023 Topics