Kidney Cancer

What is kidney cancer?

Kidney cancer is a serious disease that develops when cells inside your kidneys mutate. The mutated cells grow rapidly and don't die off like normal cells, so they create masses or tumors. Cancerous tumors can lead to kidney failure and premature death.

There are two primary forms of kidney cancer: renal cell and transitional cell.

Renal cell carcinoma

Renal cell carcinoma develops in the tiny tubes within your kidneys. It's the most common type of kidney cancer.

Transitional cell carcinoma

Transitional cell carcinoma originates in the area that stores urine in your kidneys before it passes into your bladder. Transitional cell carcinoma accounts for around 15% of kidney cancers in adults.

Getting a prompt diagnosis and the right treatment for kidney cancer gives you a good chance of recovery.

Why would I get kidney cancer?

Risk factors for developing kidney cancer include:

• Obesity
• Chronic hypertension (high blood pressure)
• Smoking
• Excessive doses of certain pain medications
• Family history of kidney cancer
• Von Hippel-Lindau syndrome
• Tuberous sclerosis

Kidney cancer typically develops in people around age 64 and is rare before 40. You're more likely to develop kidney cancer if you're a man.

What symptoms does kidney cancer cause?

In its early stages, kidney cancer causes few if any symptoms. As your cancer grows, you may experience problems such as:

• Hematuria (blood in your urine)
• Unplanned weight loss
• Anemia
• Fatigue
• Loss of appetite
• Chronic back, side, or abdominal pain

You might also be able to feel a lump in your abdomen.

Kidney cancer can metastasize (spread) and may affect your lungs. Metastasized cancer can cause problems like shortness of breath and coughing up blood.

What treatments are available for kidney cancer?

Dr. Sankhala prepares a treatment plan he personalizes to your unique needs, taking into account the type of kidney cancer, its severity, and factors such as your age and other health issues.

There are several approaches to treating kidney cancer, including:

• Image-guided kidney tumor ablation
• Targeted medication therapy
• Immunotherapy or biological therapy
• Chemotherapy
• Radiation therapy
• Surgery to remove the tumor

Surgical options include segmental resection (kidney-sparing surgery) and partial or radical nephrectomy (kidney removal). Dr. Sankhala might also offer you a clinical trial placement for new kidney cancer treatments.

If you have kidney cancer, Dr. Sankhala can provide the prompt diagnosis and expert care you need. Call Kamlesh Kumar Sankhala, MD, to schedule a consultation or book an appointment online today.