Kidney cancer is one of the top 10 most common cancers in the United States.
What is kidney cancer?
Kidney cancer is a type of cancer that starts in the kidney. It is also
known as renal cancer.
The kidneys are two bean-shaped organs located toward the mid-lower part
of the back. Kidneys help the body filter waste and excess fluid from
the blood.
The most common type of kidney cancer is called renal cell carcinoma. This
type accounts for 90% of kidney cancer tumors. Other less-common types
of kidney cancer include:
Urothelial cell carcinoma
Renal sarcoma
What are the symptoms of kidney cancer?
During the early stages, kidney cancer does not usually cause any symptoms.
However, as the cancer grows, symptoms can include:
Blood in the urine
Pain in the side or lower back
A lump in the kidney area
Chronic tiredness
Rapid, unexplained weight loss
Loss of appetite
Swelling of the legs and ankles
Fever
Many of these symptoms can be caused by other health conditions, so it
doesn’t automatically mean you have cancer if you experience any
of them. However, you should still visit your doctor if you notice anything
concerning, just to be safe.
Diagnosis of kidney cancer
Most kidney masses are picked up incidentally from abdominal imaging studies
done for other reasons. Imaging to diagnose kidney masses may include:
Kidney ultrasound
CT scan
MRI
IVP
Treatment options for kidney cancer
Treatment options for kidney cancer depend on many factors—including
the stage and type of cancer, your overall health, and your preferences.
Here are some possible treatments for kidney cancer:
Surgery: The most common treatment for kidney cancer is surgery to remove the
affected kidney (called a nephrectomy). In many cases, the surgeon will do a
partial nephrectomy to remove only the cancerous part of the kidney.
Radiation therapy: Radiation can help kill cancer cells and shrink tumors. It may help with
kidney cancer that has spread to other body parts, to relieve symptoms,
or even as part of palliative care.
Targeted therapy: This type of therapy uses drugs to attack a specific part of cancer cells.
Targeted therapy may be an option for advanced kidney cancer.
Immunotherapy: This type of therapy uses the body’s immune system to fight cancer
cells. It may help treat kidney cancer that has spread to other parts
of the body.
Ablation therapy: Ablation uses cold (cryoablation) or heat (radiofrequency ablation) to
destroy tumors in the kidneys.
Active surveillance: If the cancer is small and not causing symptoms, your provider may suggest
monitoring it with regular imaging tests.
To find the best treatment for you, it’s best to work with a provider
experienced in treating kidney cancer. At West Jefferson Medical Center,
our urology team has the experts you need.
