Kidney Cancer Specialist

Urologic Surgeons of Arizona

Urologists located in Mesa, AZ & Chandler, AZ

Kidney cancer is in the top 10 most common cancers in men and women in the United States today. Although kidney cancer can be quite invasive, it’s also very treatable if you identify it early and take appropriate action. At Urologic Surgeons of Arizona in Mesa and Gilbert, Arizona, expert robotic surgeon Kashif Alvi, MD, is a skilled diagnostician and treatment provider who can help you recover from kidney cancer and live a full life. Call the office nearest you or book an appointment online now.

Kidney Cancer Q & A

What is kidney cancer?

Kidney cancer is a cancer that usually starts in the tubes inside your kidneys. If diagnosed in its early stages, effective treatments can be used to prevent kidney cancer from spreading to other parts of your body.

About 9 in 10 kidney cancers are renal cell adenocarcinomas — a single tumor inside your kidney. Subtypes of renal cell adenocarcinomas include clear cell carcinoma and non-clear cell carcinoma, this last one including many subtypes of its own.

Uncommon kinds of kidney cancer include Wilms tumors, renal sarcomas, and transitional cell carcinomas.

What are the symptoms of kidney cancer?

Kidney cancer symptoms include:

  • Blood in your urine (hematuria)
  • Unintended weight loss
  • Abdominal or lower back lump
  • Back pain not connected to injury
  • Anemia

The symptoms often indicate other conditions, including bladder cancer, an enlarged prostate, and others, so it's important to see Dr. Alvi for a diagnosis and expert care as soon as you can.

How is kidney cancer treated?

In most cases, removing the kidney is the best way to treat kidney cancer. Without this surgery, survival rates plummet. Even if your kidney cancer has already spread to other parts of your body, removing your kidney can increase your comfort and extend your life.

The two general types of kidney surgery are robotic partial nephrectomy and robotic radical nephrectomy. Both are robotic procedures, an area in which Dr. Alvi is a highly respected specialist. 

Dr. Alvi uses the cutting-edge robotic surgical system, da Vinci® Surgical System, to control every tiny movement of the robotic arms to ensure perfect accuracy and ideal results.

In a robotic partial nephrectomy, Dr. Alvi removes the cancerous tumor while leaving the healthy part of your kidney in place. 

Robotic partial nephrectomy is a good option if your kidney cancer hasn't spread. But if your cancer is in the muscle layer of your kidney or has moved beyond that, Dr. Alvi can do a robotic radical nephrectomy to remove your entire kidney.

Both types of robotic surgery for kidney cancer require only small incisions. Robotic surgery minimizes bleeding and allows faster recovery and fewer surgical complications than traditional open surgery. 

Dr. Alvi helps you determine which procedure gives you the best chance to eliminate the kidney cancer and for you to enjoy a good quality of life.

Book your appointment at Urologic Surgeons of Arizona by calling the office nearest you or scheduling online today.