WHEN THE ONLY SYMPTOM WAS A FEVER: WHY KIDNEY CANCER IS SO DANGEROUS

On the eve of the New Year, a patient from the Lipetsk region turned to the National Medical Research Radiological Centre of the Ministry of Health of Russian Federation. The man is 50 years old. His journey to the diagnosis began with what seemed like a harmless symptom: a prolonged fever — without pain, without signs of infection, without explanation. It was with this problem that he first sought medical attention at his local clinic.

The examination came as a surprise even to experienced specialists: the patient was found to have a giant tumor in his right kidney – 19 centimeters. «Not just a growth, but a massive tumor that was almost twice the size of the kidney itself», – explained Avetik Muradyan, a urologist at the Urology Department at the P. Hertsen Moscow Oncology Research Institute – branch of the National Medical Research Radiological Centre.

The mass could even be felt through the anterior abdominal wall, but the man himself did not notice it – excess weight and absence of pain played a role.

«This is a typical story for kidney cancer», – says the doctor. «The tumor can grow for years without any signs. No pain, no blood in the urine, no other obvious symptoms».

The reason for referral to a federal center was already a complication. While the tumor was «silently» growing, it managed to invade a vessel and form a clot in the inferior vena cava – the largest vein in the body.

«Such operations are among the most complex and risky», – explains Alexey Krasheninnikov, Head of the Urology Department. «During the procedure, we temporarily block the blood flow through the inferior vena cava and remove the tumor along with the clot. Absolute precision and the work of the entire team — surgeons and anesthetists – are crucial here». The operation was successful, without complications. Unfortunately, it was impossible to save the kidney, but the main thing is that the tumor was completely removed. For our patient, this became an opportunity to start the new year from a fresh perspective.

This story serves as a reminder to all of us of the importance of regular preventive check-ups, even when there are no symptoms. «When it comes to prevention, it is very simple», – emphasizes Avetik Gagikovich. «From the age of 40, it is worth having an ultrasound of the abdominal organs and kidneys once a year. This is not a routine examination, but a matter of personal responsibility».

Most kidney tumors today are detected incidentally during a routine ultrasound. And it is precisely this ‘coincidence’ that often allows the organ to be saved and serious surgeries avoided. And sometimes it can save a life.