Kidney Cancer
Kidney Cancer Care at UVM Cancer Center
The kidneys are two fist-sized organs located above your waist, on either side of your spine. They filter toxins and excess fluid from your blood and help balance your body’s water, salt and mineral levels.
Kidney cancer is an abnormal growth of cells that forms a tumor in the kidney. The most common type is renal cell carcinoma, which accounts for about 90% of kidney cancers. When detected early, kidney cancer is often curable.
At University of Vermont Health, our cancer team provides advanced kidney cancer care in a compassionate, supportive environment. With locations across the region, you can access kidney cancer experts, no matter where you live in Vermont or northern New York.
Why Choose UVM Health?
As a leading cancer program in the region, we offer:
- Expert team: Our physicians take a coordinated, team-based approach to kidney cancer treatment. Urologists (urinary system specialists) with advanced cancer training guide your care. They work alongside surgical oncologists, medical oncologists, radiation oncologists, radiologists and pathologists to deliver comprehensive, personalized treatment. As part of a health system anchored by an academic medical center, our physician-leaders are also researchers, many of whom train the next generation of experts.
- Minimally invasive surgery: Our specialists have extensive expertise in performing minimally invasive surgery to treat kidney cancer. This approach uses robotic techniques and smaller incisions than open surgery and leads to precise results with less pain and a faster recovery.
- Innovation: We participate in prestigious cancer research networks, such as the Alliance for Clinical Trials in Oncology, that offer patients access to national clinical trials of the latest care options for kidney cancer.
- Ease of access: Through our extensive network of providers, we offer some kidney cancer services at clinic locations throughout Vermont and northern New York. We coordinate appointments whenever possible, so you can see multiple experts on one day.
Kidney Cancer Symptoms
In the early stages of kidney cancer, you may not have any symptoms. As the tumor grows, you may experience:
- Blood in the urine
- Lower back pain on one side
- A lump or mass on one side of the lower back
- Unexplained fever, fatigue, weight loss or loss of appetite
Types of Kidney Cancer
About 90% of kidney cancers are renal cell carcinoma, which starts in the structures that filter waste from your urine (tubules). There are several subtypes of renal cell carcinoma. Determining the type helps your doctor select the best treatment for you. The main subtypes include:
- Clear cell renal cell carcinoma: These cancer cells look clear under a microscope. This type accounts for about 70% of renal cell carcinomas.
- Non-clear cell renal cell carcinoma: This group of less-common renal cell carcinomas includes several cancer types. They may take on different shapes or occur in specific areas of the kidney.
Some kidney tumors are noncancerous (benign). Though they do not spread to other areas of the body, they can affect kidney function and may require treatment.
Kidney Cancer Diagnosis
Early diagnosis leads to better outcomes for people with kidney cancer. However, there are no standard screening tests for people with average kidney cancer risk. In addition, kidney tumors can grow large without causing symptoms, so some kidney cancers go undiagnosed until they are advanced.
Improvements in, and wide usage of, medical imaging have increased early kidney cancer diagnosis. People often find out they have kidney cancer when they have abdominal imaging tests for other conditions. Frequently, these tumors are at an early stage.
Tests we use to diagnose kidney cancer include:
- Blood tests: Evaluate your kidney function
- Urine tests: Look for blood in your urine
- Imaging tests, such as ultrasound, CT, MRI and PET scans: Look for visible tumors in your kidneys and other areas of your body
- Image-guided biopsy: Collect a small sample of tissue to determine the cancer type
We may also evaluate the genetic features of the tumor to determine your eligibility for certain treatments. UVM Health has the only cancer program in the area capable of running these tests in-house.
For people with a family history of kidney cancer or inherited conditions that increase their risk of kidney cancer, we recommend regular imaging to check for kidney tumors. Our cancer genetics and prevention program provides genetic testing and counseling to help you understand your risk.
Clinical Trials
The UVM Cancer Center supports more than 100 active clinical trials focused on prevention, screening, treatment, supportive care and survivorship.
Kidney Cancer Treatment
At UVM Health, you receive a personalized care plan based on the type of kidney cancer you have. Throughout your cancer journey, our nurse navigators are by your side to coordinate appointments, answer questions and guide your care.
Kidney cancer that has not spread outside the kidney can often be cured with surgery. If cancer has spread outside the kidney, surgery is usually only an option if the spread is limited.
Depending on the stage and type of kidney cancer, your surgeon may remove only the tumor and surrounding tissue (partial nephrectomy) or the entire kidney (radical nephrectomy). You may also receive immunotherapy or targeted therapy to provide more intensive treatment.
When possible, we use robotic-assisted surgery, which allows the surgeon to navigate tight spaces and operate with greater precision. It also uses smaller incisions, which leads to shorter hospital stays and faster healing.
For small tumors, your doctor may recommend localized ablation therapy as an alternative to surgery (nephrectomy). Ablation involves inserting a needle into the tumor and applying a treatment that destroys cancer cells. Ablation procedures include:
- Cryotherapy: Uses extreme cold to freeze the tumor
- Radiofrequency ablation: Delivers high-energy radio waves to heat the tumor
Medical oncology involves the use of different types of oral or intravenous (IV) drugs. Kidney cancer does not usually respond well to chemotherapy. Instead, we use medical therapies including:
- Immunotherapy: Directs your immune system to destroy cancer
- Targeted therapy: Identifies and attacks cancer cells that have specific genetic characteristics
You may receive immunotherapy or targeted therapy before a nephrectomy to shrink the tumor, or after surgery to destroy any remaining cancer cells. We also use these therapies when cancer has spread to other areas of the body.
Immunotherapy and targeted therapy are evolving rapidly and expanding treatment options for people with kidney cancer. New agents and drug regimens are the focus of many clinical trials.
Radiation therapy is a common treatment for kidney cancer. Your doctor may recommend radiation therapy as your main treatment or after surgery, with or without chemotherapy.
Clinical trials are a routine part of care team discussions. Participation in a clinical trial is voluntary and can give you access to new care methods years before they are widely available. If you are eligible for a specific trial, your provider will explain the benefits and risks of participating and the next steps for enrollment.
Locations Near You
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111 Colchester Avenue
Main Campus, East Pavilion, Level 3
Burlington, VT 05401-1473
75 Park Street
Elizabethtown, NY 12932
101 Adirondack Drive
Ticonderoga, NY 12883
111 Colchester Avenue
Main Campus, Main Pavillion, Level 2
Burlington, VT 05401
75 Beekman Street
Plattsburgh, NY 12901-1438
23 Fourth Street
Suite 1
Malone, NY 12953-1331
111 Colchester Avenue
Main Campus, Main Pavilion, Level 2
Burlington, VT 05401-1473
130 Fisher Road
Berlin, VT 05602-8132
111 Colchester Avenue
Burlington, VT 05401-1473
23 Fourth Street
Suite 1 & 2
Malone, NY 12953-1331
