Kidney Tumors Specialist
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W. Cooper Buschemeyer III, MD
Board Certified Urologist located in Conroe, TX & The Woodlands, TX
If you see blood in your urine, suffer lower back pain, or notice other new or unusual urinary symptoms, you need to have a doctor confirm or rule out a kidney tumor as the cause. W. Cooper Buschemeyer III, MD, and his expert team can diagnose your condition and treat kidney tumors when they’re found. Call the office in Conroe or The Woodlands, Texas, to make an appointment or book online today.
Kidney Tumors Q & A
What are kidney tumors?
Your kidneys remove extra water and waste from your body. They balance some chemicals in the body and make hormones. Kidney tumors are growths that can be benign (noncancerous) or malignant (cancerous). Your provider might discover tumors while screening you for or treating other health problems.
What are the symptoms of kidney tumors?
You might not show any symptoms with kidney tumors, but if you do, you might notice the following:
- Pain in your lower back or side
- Blood in your urine
- Fatigue
- Unexpected weight loss
- Loss of appetite
- Anemia
- Fever
See Dr. Buschemeyer and his team at the first sign of kidney cancer. Early detection and treatment is the best way to cure the cancer you have and prevent it from spreading throughout your body.
What are the risk factors for kidney cancer?
Kidney tumors and cancer can happen to anyone, but some things increase your risk of developing these diseases. Examples include:
- Smoking
- Obesity
- Older age
- High blood pressure
- Family history of kidney cancer
- Treatment for kidney failure
- Some inherited syndromes
Ways to lower your risk of getting kidney cancer include not smoking, controlling your blood pressure with diet, exercise, medications, and maintaining a healthy weight.
How does my provider diagnose kidney tumors?
To find out if you have kidney tumors and develop an effective treatment, Dr. Buschemeyer reviews your medical history and symptoms.
He completes a physical exam and might recommend urine tests, blood tests, an ultrasound, CT scan, MRI, X-rays, or other imaging procedures. He might also do kidney biopsies. He can use a thin, lighted, flexible tube (cystoscope) to get a better view of the inside of your kidneys.
How are kidney tumors treated?
Depending on if your kidney tumors are cancerous and what size they are, Dr. Buschemeyer and his team will suggest one of the following treatments:
Watchful waiting
Watchful waiting is a way for Dr. Buschemeyer to monitor the status of smaller, noncancerous tumors to see if they grow or develop into something more serious.
Cryoablation
Using a hollow needle and imaging guidance, Dr. Buschemeyer can freeze kidney cancer cells to destroy them.
Radiofrequency ablation
Radiofrequency ablation uses imaging guidance and a special probe that emits an electrical current to burn away cancer cells.
Targeted therapy
During targeted therapy, medication targets the kidney cancer cells, killing them.
Immunotherapy
Immunotherapy uses your body’s immune system to fight kidney cancer.
Radiation therapy
Radiation therapy consists of high-powered energy beams, like X-rays and protons, to destroy cancer cells.
Surgery
Surgery can remove kidney cancer or cancer that has spread to other parts of your body. You might need to undergo radiation therapy in addition to kidney tumor surgery.
If you’re at risk of kidney tumors or experience new or unusual symptoms, call the office of W. Cooper Buschemeyer III, MD, today. You can also schedule an appointment online.