The kidneys are bean-shaped organs about the size of a bar of soap that are located in the low back area, one on each side of the spine. The kidneys filter waste and excess fluid from the blood and send this liquid and waste (urine) to the bladder through the ureters. Urine then leaves the body through the urethra. Kidney cancer, also called renal cancer, forms when cells in the kidney change and multiply abnormally. The cancer can interfere with the working of the kidneys. Kidney cancer may spread beyond the kidneys to other parts of the body. This spread is called metastasis. The more the cancer spreads, the harder it is to treat.

Many people with kidney cancer don’t have any signs or symptoms until the cancer is advanced. If symptoms of kidney cancer do appear, they may include:

• Blood in your urine
• Fatigue
• Loss of appetite
• Fever
• Unexplained weight loss
• Pain in your back or side that doesn't go away

Treatment options for kidney cancer include the following:

• Radiation therapy that uses directed rays of energy to kill cancer cells
  
• Chemotherapy that uses strong medications to kill cancer cells
• Immunotherapy that strengthens the body’s immune system to help fight cancer
• Surgery to remove the cancerous kidney and, in some cases, the surrounding tissue
  • Firefly, used in conjunction with robotic laparoscopy, involves inserting a tube through a small incision and removing the tumor with a remote-controlled unit. Firefly uses infrared imaging to illuminate exactly where the kidney and its blood supply are.

Patients may be closely monitored by our team if they are older or have a small renal tumor or other serious medical conditions such as heart disease, chronic kidney disease or severe lung disease.

At Ochsner, we know that diagnosis and treatment are only a part of the cancer journey. We offer integrative oncology services to support your overall health and wellness during and after cancer treatment.

A nurse navigator will be with you at every step to help you schedule appointments and address the complexities and questions that come with a kidney cancer diagnosis.

Your care team will connect you to additional services based on your unique needs, including:

• Housing during kidney cancer treatment

• Nutrition support

• Occupational therapy and physical therapy

• Oncology social workers

• Palliative medicine and supportive care

• Support groups

• Survivorship care

Once the care plan is established, the Ochsner kidney cancer team works with patients and other providers to ensure care is as convenient and close to home as possible.

Follow-up appointments can often be done through virtual visits. Many patients can also receive chemotherapy and other ongoing treatment at partner facilities near their homes, while remaining under the expert care of the Ochsner kidney cancer team.

Ochsner takes a multidisciplinary approach to kidney cancer care. Our medical team includes:

• Urologists

• Urologic oncologists

• Medical oncologists

• Oncology nurses

• Radiation oncologists

• Surgical oncologists

Even if you see only one doctor, the entire team is involved in your care. The team meets weekly to discuss current patients and their treatment plans to ensure the best possible care.

We also work closely with other Ochsner providers and facilities across the Gulf South to provide high-quality, holistic care that works for you.