Kidney Cancer Specialist

What are the symptoms of kidney cancer?

In many cases, patients don't have any symptoms, especially when the cancer is only within the kidney. It's not unusual to discover kidney cancer through diagnostic testing for other conditions. 

As kidney cancer progresses, you might experience:

• Blood in your urine (hematuria)
• Pain in your flank area, between the bottom of your ribcage and the hip joint
• Persistent lower back pain on your right or left side
• Low red blood cell count (anemia) 
• Poor appetite
• Weight loss when you're not dieting
• Unexplained persistent fever
  
  

Some symptoms are harder to detect. For example, hematuria isn't always obvious to the naked eye, but Dr. Curtis can diagnose it during urine testing. 

Symptoms of bladder cancer can also occur in other conditions, such as UTIs, so it's important to get a complete evaluation at Advanced Urology of Sarasota, LLC as soon as possible. 

Am I at risk for kidney cancer?

The cause of kidney cancer isn't definitively known, but research demonstrates clear risk factors, including:

• Smoking
• Excessive alcohol intake
• Obesity
• Unhealthy diet
• Family history of hypertension
• Chlorine chemical exposure
• Having kidney dialysis
• Family history of kidney cancer
  
  

You can control many of these risk factors. Dr. Curtis can help you make healthy changes if you're at risk for kidney cancer.

How do you treat kidney cancer?

Treatment for kidney cancer depends on the grade and stage of your kidney cancer, and can include: 

Active surveillance

For earlier stage non-aggressive kidney cancer, you may just need active surveillance. Active surveillance involves visits to Advanced Urology of Sarasota, LLC every 3-12 months, based on circumstances. During your surveillance visits, Dr. Curtis checks your kidneys using tests like CT scans and abdominal ultrasounds.

Radiofrequency ablation

If you have a small tumor, Dr. Curtis may recommend radiofrequency ablation. Ablation uses either heat or cold to destroy the tumor without removing it from your body. 

Nephrectomy 

For larger or more aggressive tumors, Dr. Curtis may recommend a surgery called nephrectomy. A partial nephrectomy removes the kidney and some of the surrounding tissue, while a radical nephrectomy removes all surrounding tissue.  

Dr. Curtis is highly skilled in robotic-assisted nephrectomy using the da Vinci Surgical System. This system allows for superior precision during surgery, very small incisions, minimal bleeding, reduced pain, and faster recovery.

If your kidney cancer spreads to other parts of the body, you may need immunotherapy, radiation, chemotherapy, and other therapies to target those growths and prevent further spreading.

Kidney cancer can be a frightening diagnosis, but Advanced Urology of Sarasota, LLC is here to answer your questions and ease your worries. Call the office or use online booking for help today.