KUALA LUMPUR: In conjunction with Rare Disease Day, Sunway Medical Centre in Bandar Sunway, Petaling Jaya shared some insights on Wilms’ tumour, a type of kidney cancer in children.
Wilms’ tumour, the most common type of paediatric kidney cancer, is caused by mutations in kidney cells that typically occur after birth, usually affecting one kidney and occurs in young children usually under the age of five.
In a statement, Consultant Paediatrician and Paediatric Haematologist & Oncologist at Sunway Medical Centre, Sunway City, Dr Eni Juraida Abdul Rahman explained however that in five to seven per cent of cases, it can be found in both kidneys and the majority of cases are sporadic.
She said symptoms include, among others, painless swelling in the abdomen, haematuria (presence of blood in urine), as well as cough and shortness of breath if the tumour has spread to the lungs.
“If kidney tumour is suspected, the patient will undergo blood tests to look into the general health of the patient, haemoglobin level and kidney function.
“Radiological examinations are also performed such as an ultrasound of the abdomen, computerised tomography (CT) scan to further define the tumour and for staging,” she said.
Elaborating further, Dr Eni said in most cases, by the time the child arrives for a diagnosis, the tumour has grown to a large size, and the kidney is effectively non-functional.
“Despite that, the cure rate is 95 per cent for stage one Wilms’ tumour. For stages two to four, if there are no unfavourable features in the histology, a four-year survival rate of 90 per cent can be expected,” Dr Eni said.
She also advised parents to be more vigilant regarding symptoms and signs of Wilms’ tumour, since the cause is still unknown and as such, difficult to devise any preventive measures.
“Things to look out for include the presence of blood in the urine and loss of appetite and weight. Keep an eye out for lumps when dressing or bathing your child as most tumours are discovered incidentally.
“Last but not least, mothers are advised to exercise caution when taking any health supplement,” she said, adding that big birth weights with hemihypertrophy also contribute to the risk of Wilms’ tumour.
For more information, visit www.sunwaymedical.com or their social media platforms on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. – BERNAMA
