Overview

Kidney cancer usually begins in the lining of the small tubes within the kidney (Renal Cell Carcinoma). Early detection significantly improves the chances of successful treatment.

Symptoms

  • Blood in the urine (hematuria).
  • Persistent pain in the back or side.
  • A lump or mass in the abdomen.
  • Unexplained weight loss or fatigue.

Diagnosis

Diagnosis is often made incidentally during imaging for other conditions. CT scans and MRIs are used to characterize the tumor and determine the stage.

Treatment

Surgery

Nephrectomy (removal of part or all of the kidney) is the most common treatment. We prioritize nephron-sparing surgery (partial nephrectomy) whenever possible to preserve kidney function.

Ablation

For smaller tumors or patients who cannot undergo surgery, cryoablation (freezing the tumor) may be an option.