Renal Tumor Program
Be sure to check out two new audio conversations from patient Dave deBronkart. Dave initiated a thorough discussion with Dr. Andrew Wagner about surgical options for renal cancer patients, and another with oncologist Dr. David McDermott about additional treatment options. Click here to listen to Dave's discussions.
Kidney cancer is a disease in which a tumor grows in the kidneys. The kidneys are two fist sized bean-shaped organs, located just above the waist, on each side of the spine. The kidneys serve as the body's filtration system, removing excess salts from the 200 quarts of blood that flows through them. In this process, the kidneys produce about two quarts of urine each day, which carries the waste out of the body.
There are two main types of kidney cancer: Wilms' tumor, which occurs predominantly in children, and renal cell carcinoma in adults. Renal cell carcinoma is estimated to account for 85-95% of all kidney tumors. The National Cancer Institute reports that over 54,000 new cases of kidney cancer will present themselves in the United States alone this year. While kidney cancer is generally more common in men then in women, it usually affects people between the ages of 50 to 70. Unlike many other cancer that present themselves with severe physical symptoms, kidney cancer is often found by accident during examinations for other conditions or diseases. It is often referred to as a "silent disease," causing no noticeable symptoms until it has already spread beyond the kidneys.
Doctors at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center are among the most experienced in their field. BIDMC was the first center in New England to offer a multidisciplinary team designed to treat patients with kidney cancer. Each case is brought before a team of oncologists, surgeons, pathologists, and radiologists to combine experience and knowledge and make a more holistic and individual treatment plan. You are never cared for by just one doctor at BIDMC, but rather by a team of specialists.
New patients are evaluated promptly, generally within one to two weeks. Patients with benign tumors may not require therapy. For those with renal cancer, you can be seen by medical, surgical, and radiation oncologists during the same visit. That enables patients to make important decisions about their cancer treatment expeditiously, while eliminating the need for multiple appointments.
We offer a broad menu of treatment options, some of which include:
- Laparoscopic nephrectomies (full and partial)
- Tumor vaccine trials
- Radiofrequency ablation
- Systemic therapies such as interleukin-2 and novel antiangiogenic therapies
- Targeted radiotherapy with New England’s only CyberKnife™ unit
For more information or to schedule an appointment, please call 617-632-9250.
Dr. David F. McDermott, MD, and Dr. Andrew A. Wagner, MD, Co-Directors of The Renal Tumor Program.
