Kidney Cancer

Family Urology Associates

Urologists & Advanced Robotic and Laparoscopic Surgeons located in Frederick, MD & Hagerstown, MD

Kidney cancer is one of the 10 most common forms of cancer among Americans. But, it doesn’t have to be fatal or even hurt your quality-of-life if you seek care quickly. At Family Urology Associates, board-certified urologist Mohammed Haseebuddin, MD, also called Dr. Haseeb, focuses on saving both your kidneys and your health. Dr. Haseeb sees patients in Frederick and Hagerstown, Maryland, so call either office or use the online booking tool to find out how to preserve your health.

Kidney Cancer Q & A

What is kidney cancer?

Kidney cancer is a malignant tumor in or around your kidneys. By far, the most common kind of kidney cancer is renal cell carcinoma, accounting for around 90% of malignant tumors.

In renal cell carcinoma, you typically develop one cancerous tumor in a single kidney, but some sufferers have multiple tumors, and it's possible to have tumors in both kidneys.

In transitional cell carcinomas, the cancer begins inside the lining where your ureters connect to your kidneys. Around 5-10 of every 100 kidney cancers is transitional cell carcinoma.

Two extremely rare forms of kidney cancer are Wilms tumor, which typically occurs in children, and renal sarcoma, which affects kidney veins or connective tissue. Renal sarcomas account for less than 1% of all kidney cancers today.

Most kidney tumors are malignant, but in rare cases, you can develop benign kidney tumors.

What are the symptoms of kidney cancer?

Usually, kidney cancer is asymptomatic in the early stages. In the later stages, you could experience symptoms such as:

Hematuria, blood in the urine
Persistent back and/or side pain
Poor appetite
Unintended weight loss
Chronic exhaustion
Sporadic fever

Because kidney tumors don’t generally cause pain or other symptoms at the beginning, most kidney cancer diagnoses occur in a roundabout way: through screening for other issues.

For example, if you’re having unexplained abdominal pain, Dr. Haseeb may perform an imaging test like ultrasound or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to uncover the cause. During the tests, he may discover the kidney tumor.

What is the most effective treatment for kidney cancer?

At Family Urology Associates, Dr. Haseeb focuses on renal preservation, which means that he makes every effort to spare your kidney using laparoscopic and robotic surgical techniques. If your kidney tumor affects only part of your kidney, Dr. Haseeb can perform a partial nephrectomy (partial surgical kidney removal).

However, if your kidney tumor is very large or if it affects the entire kidney, you may need a radical nephrectomy in which Dr. Haseeb removes your entire kidney.

At Family Urology Associates, Dr. Haseeb fully commits to your welfare. He understands the challenges of kidney cancer and always makes the maximum effort to preserve your kidneys and your wellness. Book your appointment by calling the Family Urology Associates office or schedule online now.