Kidney Cancer

Kidney cancer is a type of cancer that forms in the kidneys, the two bean-shaped organs in the body located behind the abdominal organs on either side of the spine. Kidneys filter the blood that flows through the body several times a day, removing wastes and controlling the body's fluid balance. The kidneys form urine by removing wastes and excess water from the blood. The most common type of cancer in adults is known as renal cell cancer, which forms in the tissue within the kidneys. Risk factors for kidney cancer include smoking, obesity, high blood pressure, and a family history, but many people have no risk factors. The risk increases with age. Kidney cancer often is diagnosed at an advanced stage because usually there are no early signs or symptoms.

Why UAB

U.S. News & World Report consistently ranks UAB Urology among the top 50 programs of its kind in the nation, and we are widely recognized for delivering excellent genitourinary cancer care. Our medical and surgical specialists have undergone extensive training in their areas of expertise, and they are active leaders in their fields.

UAB surgeons perform many urologic procedures using minimally invasive techniques, which require only small incisions (cuts). UAB regularly uses the new da Vinci SP Single Port Surgical System, which enables surgeons to enter the body through a single abdominal incision before deploying the robot's surgical instruments. This innovative design helps improve patient outcomes and recovery times and is particularly beneficial in cancer treatment procedures, as surgeons can now access narrower spaces with better accuracy. The da Vinci SP is the only robotic system approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for urologic surgery and is well-suited for procedures involving prostate cancer, bladder cancer, ureteral reconstruction, ureteral re-implant, and much more.

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Welcome to the O'Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center at UAB

Personalized cancer treatment focused on one patient at a time.

PHYSICIANS

James E. Bryant, MD

Mollie DeShazo, MD

Carla I. Falkson, MD

Rudolph M. Navari, MD, PhD

Jeffrey W. Nix, MD

Soroush Rais-Bahrami, MD

Guru P. Sonpavde, MD

Sunil Sudarshan, MD

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CLINICAL TRIALS

UAB is an active participant in research and clinical trials for the diagnosis and treatment of kidney cancer. We encourage you to speak to your physician about research and clinical trial options and browse the link below for more information.

View Clinical Trials