According to the American Cancer Society, about 79,000 cases of renal (kidney) cancer are diagnosed in the U.S. each year. Facing a renal cancer diagnosis, or have symptoms that have you worried? Don't wait. Trust Hoag for accurate diagnosis and the treatments you need to help you heal. Hoag leads the way in California in the treatment of renal cancer and other urologic cancers. From unique clinical trials to minimally-invasive robotic-assisted surgery to help patients recover faster with less pain, Hoag has the talent, tools, technology and experience to help you leave renal cancer behind.
Hoag's Center for Applied Genomic Technologies works with our urologic cancer team to provide physicians with a view of each patient's tumor down to the molecular level, for more accurate treatment and better outcomes. Hoag is also one of the few hospitals in California to offer advanced, minimally-invasive surgical techniques, for more complete recovery, fewer complications and better function after renal cancer.
Renal cancer, also known as kidney cancer, is cancer that occurs in the kidneys, which are the two, fist-sized organs in the upper rear portion of the abdomen that remove toxins from the blood, create certain hormones and turn waste from the body into urine. When cells in a kidney mutate and grow out of control, this can create masses of cells called tumors, resulting in renal cancer.
There are several types of renal cancer, but according to the American Cancer Society, about 90 percent of cases are a form known as renal cell carcinoma (RCC). Clear cell renal carcinoma, a subtype of RCC, makes up about 70 percent of RCC cases.
Less common types of renal cancer include:
The symptoms of renal cancer are often different for every patient, but common symptoms can include:
According to the American Cancer Society, there are a number of factors that are believed to increase your risk of developing renal cancer. These include:
Ways to reduce your risk of developing renal cancer may include:
If you are experiencing any symptoms that might suggest renal cancer, your doctor will talk to you about your symptoms, likely followed by a thorough physical exam and bloodwork.
According to the American Cancer Society, blood work alone cannot diagnose renal cancer, but can show results that indicate a problem such as anemia, high liver enzymes or elevated levels of calcium.
Your doctor will also likely request a urine sample to check for blood in your urine, and may subject the sample to a special test called urine cytology that uses high magnification to detect cancer cells.
Depending on the outcome of those tests, your doctor may refer you to a specialist for other tests that may include:
If tests confirm a diagnosis of renal cancer, a pathologist will examine a tissue sample in the lab and grade the severity of the case by assigning a stage to the cancer, and in some cases, a Fuhrman Grade.
This staging and grade of the cancer offer insight into how likely your cancer is to spread and grow. Renal cancers are graded on a scale of 1 to 4, with 1 being the least dangerous. Cancers assigned a Fuhrman grade of 4 are the most aggressive, and the most likely to spread.
World class renal cancer care at Hoag
Diagnosed with renal cancer in Orange County? Don’t worry and wait. Trust the team that’s here to help you heal. Trust Hoag for your urologic cancer care. The Hoag Family Cancer Institute offers world-class programs for urologic cancer of all types, with multidisciplinary teams, state-of-the-art facilities and technology and the latest in cancer therapies. For the seventh consecutive year, U.S. News & World Report’s 2023-2024 Best Hospitals Rankings named Hoag in Newport Beach the highest-ranked hospital in Orange County ,
Find more information about urologic cancer care at Hoag at this link.
Hoag’s Clinical Nurse Navigator Program
Hoag is a leader in peace of mind for cancer patients through our Clinical Nurse Navigator program. This unique program provides cancer patients and their families with access to nurses who have specialized training in specific cancers. These nurses serve primarily as facilitators and guides. By answering questions, providing support and serving as a trusted source of science-backed information at each phase of treatment, Hoag’s Clinical Nurse Navigators are a critical resource for patients during diagnosis, treatment and recovery. Find more information about Hoag’s Clinical Nurse Navigator program here.
Treatment options for renal cancer depend on many factors, including how advanced the cancer is when detected, your age and any other health issues you may have. Treatments for renal cancer vary from patient to patient, but may include:
Surgery
Surgery is often recommended in renal cancer cases. There are three main surgical approaches to renal cancer:
Advanced technology and treatments for renal cancer at Hoag
Surgery is a vital component in the successful treatment of many urologic cancers. The Hoag Family Cancer Institute’s medical team includes experienced, fellowship-trained urologic oncologists who utilize the latest techniques and technology in the surgical management of many different urologic cancers, including renal cancer.
Hoag’s robot-assisted surgery program
To help patients recover faster and return to normal activities sooner, Hoag surgeons utilize the da Vinci® Surgical System to perform robot-assisted minimally invasive surgeries in some cases. Hoag’s highly-trained team recently surpassed 20,000 procedures utilizing this groundbreaking technology. Find more information about advanced robotic surgeries at Hoag at this link.
Non-surgical options
Non-surgical treatments for renal cancer can include:
Integrated Cancer Support Services at Hoag
At Hoag Family Cancer Institute, we’re committed to offering the best support services, resources and educational information to our patients and their families at every stage of their cancer journey. Hoag’s Integrated Cancer Support Services are open to everyone regardless of their prognosis, cancer stage or phase of recovery.
Resources include:
Find more information about Integrated Cancer Support Services at Hoag.
Hoag is committed to leading the way in state-of-the-art technologies and advanced treatment options. Part of this commitment includes clinical research with the goal of helping patients live longer, healthier lives. Through carefully-planned clinical trials, researchers evaluate the safety and effectiveness of new ways to diagnose, treat and prevent diseases or conditions. Treatments studied in clinical trials might be new drugs or new combinations of drugs, new surgical procedures or devices, or new ways to use existing treatments. View clinical trials for renal cancer here.
At Hoag, our clinical research team is committed to excellence in research and a continuing commitment to protect the interests and well-being of patients. Contact us at 949-536-7332 to see if joining a clinical trial for renal cancer is right for you.
At Hoag, we understand that a cancer diagnosis may cause you and your family to experience a variety of significant life changes. We are committed to providing you with support before, during and after treatment. Hoag’s survivorship resources help you navigate through the challenges of telling friends and family about your cancer, working while living with cancer, returning to “normal” after cancer and so much more. We strive to provide you with the resources needed to feel empowered in your everyday life.