The Valley Hospital is now open at 4 Valley Health Plaza in Paramus. (You may need to use 650 Winters Avenue for GPS.) All emergency care is now being provided at this location. Emergency care is no longer available at our Ridgewood campus.
If you have kidney cancer (also known as renal cancer), Valley urologic oncology specialists are here to help you choose the best options for your cancer.
There are different types of cancer that start in your kidneys. The most common type in adults is called renal cell carcinoma, which forms in the lining of the kidney tubules.
Renal cell carcinoma most often occurs in men between the ages of 50 and 70. It’s also more common in people who:
Symptoms of kidney cancer include:
If you are experiencing the above symptoms, your doctor may refer you to a urologist.
At your first visit, your doctor will ask about your medical history and symptoms, as well as perform a physical exam.
If cancer is suspected, your doctor may order additional testing, such as:
Our Urologic Oncology team uses a collaborative approach to closely review your case and recommend a personalized treatment plan. During a single, two-hour visit, you will meet with our team of specialists to go over your treatment options and answer any questions.
Treatment for kidney cancer varies depending on a variety of factors, including the tumor's size, whether the cancer has spread, your age and your overall health. Sometimes more than one treatment type is used in combination.
Our kidney cancer specialists will help you decide on the treatment option that fits you best.
Kidney cancer treatment may include:
Surgery is often the primary treatment for kidney cancer.
Valley offers minimally invasive surgical methods, such as robotic surgery, that allow your doctor greater precision and offers you the following benefits:
Biological therapy, also known as immunotherapy, uses medications that help boost your immune system to kill cancer cells. It is typically directly injected into the patient’s veins. This type of treatment has fewer side effects than traditional chemotherapy because they contain fewer toxic ingredients.
Targeted therapy uses medications that target cancer-causing changes to your cells. They are often taken in pill form, which means you can do your treatment at home. Your doctor may run tests to determine which medication will work best for you.
Radiation therapy is a non-invasive approach that may be used to treat kidney cancers in patients that are unable to undergo surgery.
This is usually performed using stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT). SBRT is targeted, high-dose radiation therapy that is delivered over a short period of time. Your doctors will discuss with you if SBRT would be a good option for you.
