The kidneys are a pair of organs, about the size of a fist, on either side of the spine in the lower abdomen. They are part of the urinary tract and make urine by removing waste and extra water from the blood.
Kidney cancer is a disease in which cells in the kidneys begin to change and grow abnormally, forming a mass of cells called a tumor. There are a few main types of kidney cancer:
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Renal cell carcinoma, which is cancer that forms in the lining of very small tubes in the kidney that filter blood and remove waste
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Renal pelvis carcinoma, which is cancer that forms in the center of the kidney where urine collects
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Wilms tumor, which is most common in children and is treated differently than adult kidney cancer
According to the American Cancer Society, nearly 51,000 people in the U.S. are diagnosed with kidney cancer each year.
Virtua Fox Chase Cancer Program
The Virtua Fox Chase Cancer Program offers a range of diagnostic procedures, advanced treatment options and personalized support services for people with suspected or diagnosed kidney cancer.
Each patient receives an individualized treatment plan based on the stage of the kidney cancer as well as their age and other health factors. Patients may obtain a second opinion outpatient consultation with a Fox Chase Cancer Center oncologist who meets with the patient and family at Virtua.
The Virtua Fox Chase Cancer Program offers advanced treatment options, including:
- Traditional and minimally invasive surgical options such as cryoablation, which destroys kidney cancer cells with extreme cold
- A range of clinical trials through national and regional associations as well as those that originate at Fox Chase Cancer Center
- Radiation therapy
Virtua Fox Chase Cancer Program’s interdisciplinary care teams are staffed by oncology experts including board-certified, fellowship-trained urologists who have completed advanced training at leading medical institutions such as Memorial Sloan-Kettering, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center and Duke University Medical Center.
In addition, oncology certified and advanced practice nurses provide support and education to patients and their families. The interdisciplinary care team may also include:
- Medical oncologists
- Radiation oncologists
- Radiologists
- Pathologists
- Oncology social workers
- Dietitians and physical therapists