Who Treats Kidney Cancer
Receiving a kidney cancer diagnosis can be upsetting and cause you to worry, and that’s normal.
Your care team will be made up of caring professionals who have seen patients with similar diagnoses to yours. They are prepared to work with you on treating your cancer.
Here are some types of doctors who may be part of your multidisciplinary cancer care team:
- Urologist – a doctor who specializes in treating problems of the urinary tract, which includes your kidneys, ureters, bladder, and urethra. They may do surgery to remove your kidney tumor.
- Urologic oncologist – a doctor who specializes in diagnosing and treating cancers of the urinary tract. They may do surgery to remove your kidney tumor.
- Surgical oncologist – a doctor who treats cancer with surgery.
- Medical oncologist – a doctor who treats cancer with medicines.
- Radiation oncologist – a doctor who treats cancer with radiation.
- Pathologist – a doctor who diagnoses and classifies diseases by looking at tissue samples under a microscope.
- Diagnostic radiologist – a doctor who interprets the results of imaging tests.
- Interventional radiologist – a doctor who uses imaging tests to do minor procedures such as biopsies, place stents or ablation therapies.
- Nephrologist – a doctor who specializes in kidney diseases. They help manage how well your kidneys work after losing part of or a whole kidney.
- Palliative medicine specialist – a doctor who treats side effects caused by cancer and treatments.
There may be others on your cancer care team too. Your entire team will help guide you and your loved ones through your treatment.
You’re also an important member of your treatment team!
- Ask questions so you can understand and help decide on treatments that are right for you.
- Tell your team about any concerns or side effects – they depend on you to share how you’re doing so they can help manage any problems.
Keep Learning:
The Kidney Cancer Association provides educational literature for anyone impacted by kidney cancer.