ABOUT KIDNEY CANCER

Your expert radiation oncologists are ready to provide effective kidney cancer treatment at Alaska CyberKnife, located in Providence Cancer Center in Anchorage. Patients from Alaska, as well as from the mainland and Canada, trust Alaska CyberKnife to target kidney tumors with high doses of radiation that can kill cancerous cells while protecting the healthy surrounding tissue. At Alaska CyberKnife you’ll find caring, knowledgeable professionals that will stay with you every step of the way, guiding you through the treatment process and making sense of the options available to you.

Kidney cancer occurs when abnormal cells grow out of control in the kidney and form a growth or tumor. By far the most common type of kidney cancer is renal cell carcinoma, though there are more than 20 types of cancer cells and several types of cancer. Doctors at Alaska CyberKnife Center may adjust your kidney cancer treatment based on each type of cancer.

The kidneys are a pair of bean-shaped organs located on either side of the spine, each about the size of a fist. The are attached to the upper back wall of the abdomen and protected by the lower ribcage. The primary job of the kidneys is to filter blood coming in from the renal arteries to remove excess water, salt and waste from the body. These waste products become urine and leave the body through tubes called ureters, which connect to the bladder. Small glands called adrenal glands sit above each of the kidneys. Each kidney and adrenal gland is surrounded by fat and a thin, fibrous layer known as Gerota’s fascia. Kidneys also help control blood pressure by making a hormone called renin. And, they help make sure the body has enough red blood cells by making a hormone called erythropoietin. This hormone tells the bone marrow to make more red blood cells. Although the body has two kidneys, only part of one kidney is necessary to function.

Kidney cancer affects mostly older people, with the average age on diagnosis being 64 and people younger than 45 very uncommon. Men have a higher risk than women. It’s one of the 10 most common cancers in both men and women with a lifetime risk level at 1.6 percent.

Many times kidney cancer is detected before it spreads to other parts of the body. Other times it is not. Sometimes the cancer is found when you have an X-ray or ultrasound for another reason. When kidney cancer is in its early stages, there are usually no symptoms. Symptoms then occur when the tumor has grown larger and is impacting other organs. The following symptoms may be experienced if you have kidney cancer. They are also symptoms of many other, less serious ailments. Others may not experience any symptoms.

• Blood in the urine
• Low pack pain or pressure on one side (not caused by injury)
• A mass or lump in the side or back
• Swelling of the ankles and legs
• Tiredness or fatigue
• Loss of appetite
• Weight loss not due to dieting
• High blood pressure
• Anemia
• Fever that doesn’t go away and not caused by an infection
• For men, a rapid development of a cluster of enlarged veins, known as a varicocele, around a testicle

Talk to you doctor if you have one or more of these symptoms in order to confirm a diagnosis.

Find out more about how Alaska CyberKnife can help effectively treat your kidney cancer without surgery. Call our Anchorage radiation oncology experts today and they will explain all of the treatment options available based on your individual diagnosis. You can reach us by calling (907) 312-2112 or completing our online contact form with your questions or to schedule your first appointment. We will battle your kidney cancer with you and work to create the best possible outcomes.

Find out more about kidney cancer:

• Kidney Cancer – Types & Stages
• Kidney Cancer – Our Treatment Options