Renal cell carcinoma is the most common type of kidney cancer. There are several types of renal cell cancer. Common types include:
Clear cell
Chromophobe
Collecting duct RCC
Papillary
Other kidney cancers we treat include:
Renal sarcoma
Transitional cell (urothelial) carcinoma
Wilm's tumor
Noncancerous kidney tumors that may need treatment include:
Angiomyolipoma
Oncocytoma
Risk factors for renal cell carcinoma
The most common risk factor for renal cell carcinoma is smoking. Some genetic syndromes also are associated with renal cell carcinoma. The most common is von Hippel-Lindau disease. This condition affects the capillaries of the brain, eyes and other parts of the body. If you have von Hippel-Lindau disease, you should get screened for kidney tumors.
You might not feel symptoms of kidney cancer or even know you have a tumor. Many kidney tumors do not cause symptoms until they grow quite large. Most kidney tumors are found during imaging tests for another condition.
Kidney tumors can cause:
Blood in your urine
Fatigue
Fevers
Low back pain
Mass or lump on one side of your back
Pain
Pressure on one side of your back
Weight loss
Your doctor will use a few tests to determine whether you have a kidney tumor and check for signs of cancer. These tests include biopsies as well as blood, urine and imaging tests.
Stage I
The tumor is 7 centimeters or smaller and has not spread beyond the kidney.
Stage II
The tumor is larger than 7 centimeters and has not spread beyond the kidney.
Stage III
The tumor can be small or large. The cancer has spread to either one nearby lymph node, the fatty tissue around the kidney or the large veins leading from the kidney to the heart. The cancer has not spread to other lymph nodes or organs.
Stage IV
The cancer has spread into the fatty tissue that surrounds the kidney. The cancer is found in more than one lymph node near the kidney, in any lymph node not near the kidney or in other organs.
If you have stage III or stage IV cancer, members of our medical and urologic oncology teams review your care. Our teams meet weekly to discuss the best approach for each patient with advanced kidney cancer.
Our treatment approaches focus on a personalized approach to treatment and may include:
Active surveillance: We monitor small kidney tumors for growth and changes.
Multimodal treatment: We provide surgery along with other treatments for advanced kidney cancer.
Complex surgery: We perform surgery for advanced kidney cancer that has spread to lymph nodes or blood vessels.
Your care team talks with you about your specific treatment options. These include:
Alternative therapy
Partial kidney removal (partial nephrectomy)
Complete kidney removal (radical nephrectomy)
Tumor ablation using microwave ablation or cryotherapy
Immunotherapy
Systemic-targeted therapies
Our kidney cancer team uses minimally invasive surgery or robotic-assisted surgery for kidney tumor removal and complete kidney removal. Your care team provides follow-up care to ensure your health after your surgery.
Improving your care with research
At the UW Health | Carbone Cancer Center, our kidney cancer team takes part in clinical trials and research. This gives you the option to try the newest treatments available. One of our kidney cancer clinical trials uses a combination of microwave ablation with radiation therapy. Learn more about our clinical trials.
The UW Health | Carbone Cancer Center kidney cancer team includes experts in urologic oncology (surgery), medical oncology, alternative therapy, nutrition, radiation oncology and other experts to provide innovative and effective treatment.
Displaying 0 of 0
The UW Health | Carbone Cancer Center provides care throughout Wisconsin and northern Illinois. Not all cancers are treated at every location; however, we will make every effort to connect you with care at a location convenient to you.