Kidney Cancer Specialist

What is kidney cancer?

When changes in your DNA trigger abnormal cell growth in your kidneys, you develop kidney cancer, sometimes called renal cancer. In most cases, kidney cancer begins in the lining of your renal tubules, the tiny tubes that clean your blood and produce urine.

Medical research shows a link between kidney disease and kidney cancer. Things like long-term dialysis, kidney surgery, and immunosuppressant medicines can contribute to your risk of developing kidney cancer. Other risk factors include smoking, obesity, and high blood pressure.

What are the warning signs of kidney cancer?

Kidney cancer doesn’t usually cause any warning signs in its early stages. However, as your tumor grows, you could develop symptoms like:

• Blood in your urine
• Lower back pain
• A lump on your side or lower back
• Fatigue
• Loss of appetite
• Unexplained weight loss
• Fever
• Anemia

Other conditions like bladder and urinary tract infections can cause similar symptoms so it’s critical to get a diagnosis so you can start appropriate treatment to restore your health.

How is kidney cancer diagnosed?

In most cases, kidney cancer is discovered when you are tested for another health issue. If you show signs of kidney cancer in other tests, your oncologist uses ultrasounds, MRIs, or CT scans to study your kidneys for signs of cancer. They might also order a biopsy to collect cells for additional testing.

How is kidney cancer treated?

The oncology team at Wellness Oncology & Hematology provide state-of-the-art treatment of kidney cancer. Your oncologist designs a customized treatment plan to address your specific needs. They often combine a variety of therapies to fight your cancer.

One of the most common treatments of kidney cancer is the surgical removal of part or all of your kidney. Your oncologist could remove just your tumor or, if you have a more advanced kidney cancer, they can take out your entire kidney as well as surrounding tissue and lymph nodes.

Your oncologist could offer you thermal ablation, a treatment that burns or freezes the abnormal cells. They might also recommend immunotherapy to help your body identify and fight off the abnormal cells or anti-angiogenic therapies that prevent cancer from growing new blood vessels and spreading.

You could also benefit from medicines that slow the growth of cancer or drugs that work with your immune system to identify and destroy cancer cells.

Call Wellness Oncology & Hematology today or make an appointment online for expert treatment of kidney cancer.