Cancer for the Month of March: Kidney Cancer

Kidney cancer is among the 10 most common cancers in both men and women. Kidney cancer begins when healthy cells in 1 or both kidneys change and grow out of control, forming a mass called a renal cortical tumor. Kidney cancer rarely causes signs or symptoms in its early stages. Currently, there are no routine tests used to screen for kidney cancer in the absence of symptoms. In the later stages, kidney cancer signs and symptoms may include:

• Blood in your urine, which may appear pink, red or cola colored

• Pain in your back or side that does not go away

• Loss of appetite

• Unexplained weight loss

• Tiredness

• Fever, which usually comes and goes (intermittent)

Kidney cancer is most often treated with surgery, targeted therapy, immunotherapy, or a combination of these treatments. Radiation therapy and chemotherapy are occasionally used. People with kidney cancer that has spread, often receive multiple lines of therapy.

Care for people diagnosed with cancer does not end when active treatment has finished. Your health care team will continue to check to make sure the cancer has not returned, manage any side effects, and monitor your overall health. This is called follow-up care.

Your follow-up care may include regular physical examinations, medical tests, or both. Doctors want to keep track of your recovery in the months and years ahead. Your follow-up care will depend on the type of tumor, stage, and symptoms.

New York Cancer & Blood Specialists offers clinical trials that are carefully controlled to get a closer look at promising new treatments or procedures. This is the best way for doctors to get a full understanding and to learn more about the disease.

If you would like to learn more about our clinical trials offered at NYCBS, please contact us today at (855) 528-7322. You are not alone in this fight.