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Smokers Twice as Likely to Develop Kidney Cancer
“Smoking doubles the chances of developing kidney cancer in men and women over the age of 40,” Dr M Hammad Ather, Consultant Urologist at Aga Khan University Hospital (AKUH), Karachi informed the audience at a ‘Signs, Symptoms and Care' programme in Quetta. “However, more men than women are diagnosed with kidney cancer each year,” he explained.
Significant developments in the understanding of these three important urological cancers – in the bladder, kidney and prostate – have helped improve management techniques. AKUH, Karachi offers comprehensive cancer management services for all types of cancers. Dr Ather explained that surgery is the current gold standard for the management of renal or kidney cancer and is now increasingly being performed using minimally invasive methods.
“For bladder cancer also, smoking is considered to be a major risk factor and, like kidney cancer, bladder cancer affects more men than women,” Dr Ather stated. Treatments for bladder cancer include surgery, radiation, chemotherapy and biologic therapy or immunotherapy which boosts the body's own ability to fight cancer.
Talking about prostate cancer, Dr Ather explained that it is the third most common cause of death from cancer in men of all ages but it is rare in men younger than 40. More cases of prostate cancer are being recorded in Pakistan now due to increasing longevity, better diagnostic abilities and increased awareness. “Still,” he warned, “most patients seek treatment when the disease has already reached an advanced stage.” Treatment may involve surgery, radiation therapy or hormone therapy.
“Scarcity of drinking water coupled with a hot climate is an important reason for the high rate of renal stone disease in Pakistan,” Dr Khurram Siddiqui, Consultant Urologist at AKUH, Karachi said while speaking on current trends in the management of urinary stones. In Pakistan, stones are the leading cause of end stage renal disease (ESRD), aggravated by a lack of awareness in the general public and a scarcity of medical facilities.
The main function of the kidneys is to process blood to sift out waste products and excess fluid, which is then removed from the body in the form of urine. Stones form in the kidneys when fluid in the urine is not enough to dilute other substances. However, often a combination of a number of factors contributes towards the formation of kidney stones. Most stones pass out of the body through the urine without medical intervention. For more complicated conditions, techniques are available to remove stones in least invasive ways.
“Open surgery for this condition is now becoming obsolete. In shock wave lithotripsy, a machine sends shock waves directly to the kidney stone, which is broken up into smaller pieces that will pass out of the body with urine,” Dr Siddiqui explained. Other methods include surgery performed through the skin (percutaneous) and endoscopic surgery. Both are established as safe and effective methods for treating stones.
“In our daily practice, we encounter stones of all shapes and sizes. We need to update our understanding of the various options for each given situation and offer the most suitable treatment for each patient,” he advised the physicians present.
As part of its outreach programme and societal commitment of creating awareness of early diagnosis and timely treatment, AKUH organises such programmes. The Hospital has organised over 300 Signs, Symptoms and Care programmes in Karachi, Hyderabad, Quetta and the UAE, benefiting more than 40,000 people. Similarly, A KU H's Pat ient Welfare Programme reaches out to patients by providing assistance to those patients who are unable to afford the medical cost of their treatment. Seventy three per cent of all patients treated at AKUH are from low- to middle-income areas. Since the inception of this welfare programme in 1986, PKR 2 billion has been disbursed to more than 300,000 needy patients.
For further information, please contact:
Department of Public Affairs
Aga Khan University
Stadium Road, P.O. Box 3500, Karachi-74000
Fax: 92 21 493 4294, 493 2095
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