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Filmmaker Shaunak Sen reveals kidney cancer, partial kidney removed; Know the early signs and symptoms
Shaunak Sen, best known for the Oscar-nominated documentary All That Breathes, said he was diagnosed with low-grade kidney cancer and had to undergo a partial nephrectomy, in which a part of his kidney was removed. Kidney cancer develops when cells in your kidneys change and grow out of control. People suffering from kidney cancer may experience abdominal pain, high blood pressure, blood in urine and other symptoms. Read on to know more.

Sen said his diagnosis was an accidental discovery and a blessing in disguise (Picture: Instagram/iStock)
Award-winning filmmaker Shaunak Sen reveals when he was diagnosed with early-stage kidney cancer Doctors discovered a small malignant tumorSen took to social media to reveal that he had undergone a partial nephrectomy, in which a part of his kidney was removed to take out the tumor.
Sen also said The diagnosis was an incidental discovery And a blessing in disguise.
“Slightly absurd update. In late October, while getting checked for an autoimmune thing, I got a shocking diagnosis – a routine scan revealed a small malignant tumor in the kidney. “Immediate surgery was advised,” Shaunak wrote in the note on Instagram. “The incidental discovery was a blessing in disguise, it was caught very early in the low-grade stage. Since then I have been recovering and gaining strength.
Shaunak, who rose to global fame with his Oscar-nominated documentary in 2023 all that breathesSaid he has no symptoms, no history of illness, and does not smoke or drink alcohol.
what is kidney cancer,
have kidney cancer abnormal growth of cells in your kidney tissueWhich takes the form of tumor with time. A cancerous or malignant tumor spreads to other tissues and vital organs, causing metastasis.
According to experts, kidney or kidney cancer is most common in people aged between 65 to 74 years. Men are twice as likely to develop this disease as women. It is also more common in Native American and black populations. However, it is much less common in children. However, 500 to 600 children a year are diagnosed with Wilms tumor – a type of kidney cancer.
What causes kidney cancer?,
Doctors say that although the exact cause of kidney cancer is not known, there are some risk factors that increase the chances of getting this disease, including:
smoking
People who smoke regularly have higher risk of kidney cancer
obesity
Obesity and overweight are major risk factors for kidney cancer. In general, the more a person weighs, the greater the risk.
high blood pressure
Hypertension or high blood pressure is linked to an increased risk of kidney cancer.
family history
People who have family members with kidney cancer may have an increased risk of developing the condition themselves.
genes change
Your genes contain instructions for cell function, and changes in certain genes can increase your risk of developing kidney cancer.
long term dialysis
Dialysis is the process of cleaning your blood by passing it through a special machine. Dialysis is used when a person’s kidneys are not working properly.
How serious is a kidney tumor?
According to experts, some kidney tumors are benign or non-cancerous and are generally smaller than cancerous tumors. They do not spread to other parts of your body and surgical removal is the most common treatment for noncancerous kidney tumors.
Whether your kidney tumor is cancerous or non-cancerous, you should start treatment as soon as possible to avoid complications.
Symptoms and signs of kidney cancer
Doctors say that kidney cancer may not cause any noticeable symptoms in its early stages. But as the tumor starts growing, symptoms start appearing. Some of these include:
- blood in your urine
- a lump or mass in your kidney
- flank pain
- Tiredness
- loss of appetite
- weight loss
- low grade fever
- high blood pressure
- anemia
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The diagnosis was an incidental discovery
Doctors discovered a small malignant tumor
what is kidney cancer
abnormal growth of cells in your kidney tissue
What causes kidney cancer?
Symptoms and signs of kidney cancer