20.10.2026 11:33
The surgery of 67-year-old Ferhat Çakır, who was diagnosed with bladder cancer in Giresun, became highly risky because his kidney was located in a congenitally different position. Stating that only 3 similar cases have previously been reported worldwide, doctors successfully completed the operation, which is a first in Turkey. While the patient's bladder was removed, his kidney and its functions were preserved.
In Giresun, 67-year-old Ferhat Çakır applied to Prof. Dr. İlhan Özdemir State Hospital due to the health problems he experienced. During the examinations, a tumor was detected in his bladder, and it was determined that Çakır's cancer had advanced into the bladder muscle.
It was decided to completely remove the patient's bladder for treatment. However, a congenital anatomical difference revealed in preoperative examinations made the operation much more delicate.
It was understood that Çakır's right kidney was not in its normal position but was located inside the pelvic bone, right next to the bladder.
HIS KIDNEY HAD 4 ARTERIES AND 3 VEINS
One of the most important difficulties of the operation was that the vessels supplying the patient's kidney were different from normal.
Urology Specialist Op. Dr. Burhan Özdemir, who was part of the team performing the operation, stated that there were 4 arteries and 3 veins in the patient's kidney and said, "While removing the bladder and cleaning the lymph nodes to evaluate the spread of the tumor, it was necessary not to damage these vessels."
Before the operation, the doctors examined the angiography images in detail and prepared a surgical plan to protect the kidney and the vessels.
FIRST IN TURKEY, FOURTH IN THE WORLD
The team consisting of Op. Dr. Burhan Özdemir, Op. Dr. Ertürk Altun, Op. Dr. Olcay Yıldırım, and Op. Dr. Hakan Keskin successfully performed the challenging operation.
During the operation, the cancerous bladder was completely removed, and a urinary diversion procedure was performed to direct urine outside the body. The surgeons succeeded in preserving the patient's abnormally positioned kidney and its function.
Op. Dr. Ertürk Altun stated that in their literature review they found only three case reports with the same characteristics and said that no similar case had been reported from Turkey before.
Thus, according to the literature information reported by the doctors, the operation in Giresun became a candidate to be recorded as the first similar case in Turkey and the fourth reported in the world.
"IT IS THE MOST PLEASING DEVELOPMENT THAT OUR PATIENT IS CURRENTLY WELL"
Op. Dr. Ertürk Altun, who announced that the patient's health condition was good after the operation, emphasized that preserving the kidney's vascular structures and urinary tract was one of the most critical stages of the operation.
Altun said, "We succeeded in preserving the kidney and its functions during the operation. The fact that our patient is currently well is the most pleasing development for us."
CRITICAL WARNING FROM DOCTORS: DO NOT UNDERESTIMATE BLOOD IN URINE
The doctors who performed the operation also gave warnings about the early symptoms of bladder cancer.
Op. Dr. Olcay Yıldırım stated that bladder tumors can often manifest with painless blood in the urine and said that people experiencing this complaint should consult a urology specialist without wasting time.
Op. Dr. Hakan Keskin, on the other hand, reminded that smoking and tobacco use are among the important risk factors for bladder cancer. Keskin drew attention to the fact that people working in the printing, textile, and leather sectors may also be at risk because they are exposed to certain chemicals.