Oscar-nominated director Shaunak Sen declares himself cancer-free after partial nephrectomy; experts share if this treatment helps
Oscar-nominated director of All That Breathes, Shaunak Sen was diagnosed with cancer the previous year, but he recently revealed that he is now cancer-free after undergoing a partial nephrectomy. Can partial nephrectomy help cure kidney cancer??
Shaunak Sen, the Oscar-nominated director of All That Breathes, was diagnosed with cancer last year, but he recently revealed that he is now cancer-free.
The previous year, Sen was diagnosed with a malignant tumour in his kidney. On Sunday, the director took to his Instagram handle and posted about his health on the platform. The post also included some pictures that captured his industry colleagues, including Mira Nair and Tillotama Shome, visiting him.
Sen's post read that at the end of October, during a routine checkup for an autoimmune illness, he got to know about his shocking diagnosis of a small malignant tumour in the kidney. Further, the director revealed that on December 26, he underwent a partial nephrectomy that helped him to be cancer-free. But what is partial nephrectomy?
What is partial nephrectomy?
Partial nephrectomy, or nephron-sparing surgery, is done to remove the portion of the kidney that has a tumour or damaged tissue while preserving the healthy, functioning parts of the kidney. ¡°This surgery will be advised by the expert to tackle kidney cancer or benign kidney tumours. This surgery aims to ensure proper kidney function by removing the affected area,¡± explains Dr. Puneet Bhuwania, consultant nephrologist & transplant physician at Wockhardt Hospitals, Mira Road.
This procedure is a boon for those with a single kidney, having impaired kidney function, or other medical conditions that can lead to kidney removal, he adds.
Can partial nephrectomy help cure kidney cancer?
Before the advent of modern surgery and advances like laparoscopy and robotic surgery, a tumour in the kidney¡ªbenign or malignant¡ªnecessitated the removal of the entire affected kidney. According to Dr. Shakir Tabrez, Additional Director, Urology, Uro-Oncology, Andrology, Kidney Transplant & Robotic Surgery, Fortis Hospital, Cunningham Road, ¡°Now with improved and cutting-edge technology like robotic surgery, we can easily remove just the affected tissue¡ªbe it cancerous or infected¡ªand leave the rest of the functioning kidney behind, thus allowing the patient a clearance from disease yet an improved quality of life.¡±
Risk factors of partial nephrectomy
Partial nephrectomy surgery is generally safe. However, there can be risks like blood loss during surgery; infection at the surgical site or in the urinary tract can develop. ¡°There can be other side effects, such as urine leakage, requiring further intervention. Moreover, in some cases, the nearby organs, such as intestines and blood vessels, can get injured or damaged during the surgery,¡± says Dr. Bhuwania.
There can be impaired kidney function when it comes to the operated kidney. Dr. Bhuwania goes on to share, ¡°One can also get blood clots or thrombosis, which can negatively impact the recovery process. It is the need of the hour to make informed choices with the help of an expert when it comes to your health and well-being.¡±
Consult the doctor on an immediate basis if you tend to spot blood in your urine (haematuria) or feel pain after the surgery.
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