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Kidney cancer is among the top 10 cancers in women and men in the United States. At Mission City Urology in San Antonio, Texas, board-certified urologist Arpan Satsangi, MD, PhD, and the rest of the medical staff offer kidney cancer screenings and treatments that detect and eliminate the cancer before it can spread to other areas of your body. Schedule an evaluation today at Mission City Urology by calling the office or requesting an appointment online.
Kidney Cancer Q & A
What is kidney cancer?
Kidney cancer is a cancer that initially forms in the kidneys, the bean-shaped organs behind your abdominal organs. There is one kidney on each side of your spine. When left undetected and untreated, kidney cancer can become deadly by spreading to other parts of your body.
What are the symptoms of kidney cancer?
Kidney cancer can cause the following symptoms:
- Fatigue
- Unexplained weight loss
- Persistent pain in your back or side
- Reduced appetite
- Blood in your urine
- Not feeling well
- Bone pain
- Low-grade fever
- Anemia
- High calcium levels
- High blood pressure (hypertension)
However, your symptoms might not be noticeable during kidney cancer’s early stages.
What are the risk factors for kidney cancer?
Anyone can develop kidney cancer, but its risk factors include:
- Aging
- Being male
- Being Native American or African American
- Obesity
- Smoking
- High blood pressure (hypertension)
- Family history of kidney cancer
- Inherited conditions
- Long-term dialysis treatment
- Radiation therapy
Kidney cancer is the most common among people 65-74. Men are twice as likely as women to develop it.
How is kidney cancer diagnosed?
Dr. Satsangi diagnoses kidney cancer by discussing your symptoms and medical history, completing a physical exam, and ordering diagnostic tests. You might need blood work, urinalysis, a biopsy, or imaging procedures like an ultrasound, CT scan, or MRI.
How is kidney cancer treated?
The contents of your personalized kidney cancer treatment plan will depend on which stage your cancer has reached. You might undergo one or more of the following:
- Surgery to remove the cancerous tissue
- Cryoablation (freezing the cancer cells, killing them)
- Radiofrequency ablation
- Radiation therapy
- Chemotherapy
- Immunotherapy
- Targeted therapy
It’s also helpful to eat nutritious foods, maintain an ideal weight, not smoke or drink alcohol, exercise regularly, get plenty of sleep, and minimize stress. Effectively manage high blood pressure (hypertension) and any other chronic conditions.
See Dr. Satsangi at the first sign of a problem or undergo regular screening if you have kidney cancer risk factors. Call the doctor’s office anytime with questions.
Schedule a kidney cancer screening today at Mission City Urology by calling the office or requesting an appointment online.