Kidney cancer is twice as common in men than women, but the good news is that two-thirds of all cases are diagnosed before they spread, giving you a good chance of enjoying a long life. At Urology Specialists of Cypress, James Stocks, MD, has extensive experience providing comprehensive care for kidney cancer, including expertise in a broad array of surgical techniques, such as robotic surgery. If you’re worried about the possibility of kidney cancer, you can schedule a same-day appointment by calling the office in Cypress, Texas, or requesting an appointment online.
Kidney cancer develops when DNA is damaged, causing cells to grow faster than normal and uncontrollably. You may inherit genetic conditions that increase your risk for kidney cancer, but most people develop DNA mutations during their lifetimes.
Factors that increase your risk include:
You may also be exposed to cancer-causing substances at work, such as certain metals, solvents, and herbicides.
When symptoms appear, you may experience:
Men may notice a cluster of enlarged veins on their right testicle.
After a kidney biopsy to verify you have cancer and CT scans or an MRI to determine the size of the tumor and whether it has spread, your Urology Specialists of Cypress provider discusses your treatment options, including:
The first line of treatment is surgery to remove the cancer. In many cases, surgery cures the disease by eliminating all traces of cancer. Your provider may remove the tumor or the entire kidney, depending on the tumor’s size.
If you have a small tumor or can’t have surgery, your provider may recommend cryotherapy (to freeze and kill the tumor) or radiofrequency ablation, which uses radio waves to heat and destroy the cells.
You may need radiation therapy if you can’t have surgery or only have one kidney, or to ease the pain if your kidney cancer spreads.
These advanced drugs target the cancer’s genes, proteins, or other tissues that help the cancer grow and spread. For example, many targeted drugs prevent cancer cells from developing the blood vessels they need to survive.
These medications target your immune system, making it better able to identify and destroy cancer cells. Immunotherapy can serve as an important part of your primary treatment, or your provider may use it to prevent cancer recurrence.
If you have questions about your risk factors or symptoms, or need expert care for kidney cancer, call Urology Specialists of Cypress or book an appointment online today.