Traditionally, the field of hematology-oncology has elicited a feeling of despair and morbidity in many until a few years ago. However, with the growing advances in the field of oncology, there are a larger number of patients who are being diagnosed with cancers and an even larger number surviving cancer. With this change in the field of oncology, we—as nephrologists—encounter many patients who develop kidney diseases due to cancer or the therapy used for the treatment of cancer.
From electrolyte and acid-base imbalance to acute and chronic kidney disease, including glomerular diseases, nephrologists are seeing a growing number of patients in the inpatient and outpatient units who have had a tryst with some cancer. This is where the birth of onconephrology began. From being a highly specialized subspeciality to becoming the “need of the hour,” this branch of nephrology is soon going to become a necessity.
In the next two issues of Kidney News, we will explore the various facets of onconephrology. We shall also feature editorials about recent original articles published in various journals that focus on onconephrology.
This year, several centers around the world are creating onconephrology services as well as clinics dedicated to the field. We hope that this will lead to better care for patients and new, original investigations.
As they say, necessity is truly the mother of invention. Thus is the beginning and an onward march of onconephrology!
