Kidney Cancer
Kidney cancer ranks among the top 10 cancers in both men and women in the United States, with more than 63,000 diagnoses each year. For comprehensive assessment and treatment of kidney cancer, the team at Charleston Oncology brings years of combined experience and the most cutting-edge treatments available to patients.
Kidney Cancer Q & A
What are the most common types of kidney cancer?
A full 90% of kidney cancer diagnoses are tied back to renal cell carcinoma (RCC). This type of cancer presents itself as a tumor in your kidney (sometimes more than one) and can affect one or both kidneys.
The other forms of kidney cancer that make up the remaining 10% of diagnoses include:
- Transitional cell carcinoma
- Wilms tumor
- Renal sarcoma
Kidney tumors are not always cancerous as benign tumors can also develop in these organs.
How is kidney cancer diagnosed?
The symptoms of kidney cancer are also the symptoms of many other problems, such as urinary tract infections and kidney stones. If you’re having problems with the function of your kidneys, and your doctor has ruled out other causes, the team at Charleston Oncology works diligently to uncover the root of your problem.
To do this, they first turn to diagnostic imaging, including X-rays, MRIs, CT scans, and PET scans. They also test your blood and urine for any markers of cancer.
If they confirm the presence of a tumor, the next step is staging the cancer, which follows this progression:
- Stage I – The tumor is less than 2 ¾ inches and it’s confined to your kidney
- Stage II – The tumor is larger, but still confined to your kidney
- Stage III – The tumor affects the tissue surrounding your kidney and nearby lymph nodes
- Stage IV – The cancer spreads to distant parts of your body
Once your doctor determines the stage of your cancer, they come up with an appropriate treatment plan.
How is kidney cancer treated?
In most cases, surgery is the treatment of choice for kidney cancer in order to remove the tumor. Since you can function perfectly well with just one kidney, your surgeon may remove all, or part of, your kidney in order to fully remove the cancer.
If your kidney cancer is advanced or recurs, you may need to undergo further treatments, including:
- Radiation
- Chemotherapy
- Targeted therapies
- Immunotherapy
- Clinical trials
You can be assured that your doctor at Charleston Oncology will get you the treatment you need.
To get the best in kidney cancer care, call Charleston Oncology to schedule a consultation.
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