Renal Cancer
About renal cancer
Renal (or kidney) cancer is a type of cancer which starts in the lining of the kidney’s tubules. Both men and women can be affected, although men are affected about twice as commonly as women.
At Paradigm Urology, renal cancer is managed by Dr. Tony Makris. Dr Makris is a urologic surgeon with extensive experience in urologic oncology.
How is renal cancer diagnosed?
Early cancer often doesn’t present with symptoms, and often kidney cancer is discovered during an investigation to look for something else.
Blood and urine tests
If your doctor suspects renal cancer, blood and urine tests will often be ordered. About half of all patients with renal cell cancer have blood in their urine, although the amount is not always visible to the naked eye.
Ultrasound or CT scan
An ultrasound or CT scan of the kidneys allows the doctor to see a clear image of your kidneys and identify any changes in shape or size, which may indicate a tumour. Sometimes this combined with blood or urine tests is enough to diagnose renal cancer.
Kidney biopsy
A kidney biopsy may be recommended in some situations, although this is not always necessary for diagnosis. A small sample of the kidney tissue is analysed by a pathologist who looks for cancer cells.
How is renal cancer treated?
The goal of renal cancer treatment is usually to remove the cancerous cells from the body, either through use of targeted therapies or by surgical excision. Dr. Makris will take plenty of time to discuss all your options with you and your family, and explain which are most suitable for you. Treatment recommendations may include:
Active surveillance
Smaller kidney cancers often grow very slowly or not at all. As a result, an active surveillance or watchful waiting protocol may be recommended. These approaches involve monitoring the tumour carefully without intervening unless things change.
Nephrectomy
Larger tumours (over 4cm) are usually treated with a partial or radical nephrectomy (removing part or all of the kidney). This treats the cancer by removing it from the body.
Tumor ablation
If you aren’t able to have major surgery, Dr. Makris may recommend a tumor ablation procedure instead. These are less invasive and involve using concentrated heat or cold to destroy the tumour. Examples of this are stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT), cryotherapy, and radiofrequency ablation (RFA).
Chemotherapy / radiotherapy
Other medications and therapies – such as chemotherapy or radiotherapy – may also be used to help manage kidney cancer. They may be used in conjunction with surgery or as a treatment on their own. Medications may be the primary course of treatment if you are medically unsuitable for surgery.