Removing kidney unnecessary with cancer

EDMONTON, Alberta, March 1 (UPI) -- Too many Canadians diagnosed with kidney cancer lose an entire kidney when they may not have to, a Canadian researcher says.

Dr. Ronald Moore, a professor of surgery and oncology in Edmonton, Alberta, says removing the full kidney can leave the patient's overall kidney function compromised for later in life -- a significant challenge if the cancer returns.

Research shows as many as one in 10 patients will develop kidney cancer again in their other kidney, and if the first one has been removed, the patient's remaining kidney function will be compromised further, Moore says.

"Years ago it was similar in breast cancer and radical mastectomies were common. But due to research and treatment advances now more patients undergo breast-conserving surgery," Moore says in a statement. "We need to embrace a similar approach for kidney cancer and start saving more kidneys, which in turn will save more lives."

Advances in imaging have resulted in approximately half of all kidney tumors being detected at an early stage -- or less than 3 inches, the Canadian Kidney Cancer Consensus Guidelines indicate.

Many of the tumors no longer need to be treated by removing the full kidney, and organ-sparing treatments can often save a good portion of a patient's kidney and kidney function, Moore says.