Kidney Cancer Care in Grand Rapids, Michigan

Kidney cancer is a type of cancer that starts when cells in the kidney begin to grow out of control. The kidneys are part of your urinary system and help filter waste products from your blood, which leave your body in the form of urine.

In the United States, kidney cancer makes up about 2.9% of all cancers. It is about twice as common in men as in women and is the 6th most commonly diagnosed cancer in American men. The risk increases with age, and most people diagnosed are over 50 years old.

In Grand Rapids and across West Michigan, kidney cancer is treated at major health systems including Spectrum Health (Corewell Health), Trinity Health Grand Rapids, Metro Health, and Mercy Health, with support from local resources such as the Kent County Health Department and Grand Rapids Public Health.

Signs and Symptoms of Kidney Cancer

Many People Have No Symptoms at First

Most kidney cancers are found by accident when doctors are checking for something else, such as back pain or digestive problems, and order imaging tests like an ultrasound or CT scan.

When symptoms do occur, they can include:

  • Blood in your urine – it may look pink, red, dark, rusty, or brown
  • Pain in your lower back or side (flank pain) that doesn’t go away
  • A lump or mass in your abdomen or side
  • Constant tiredness or fatigue
  • Unexplained weight loss
  • Fever not caused by a cold, flu, or infection

Not everyone with these symptoms has kidney cancer. Conditions like kidney stones or infections are common in Michigan and can cause similar problems. If you notice any of these symptoms or are worried about changes in your health, contact your Grand Rapids primary care provider or urologist promptly.

Risk Factors for Kidney Cancer

Certain factors can increase your chance of developing kidney cancer. Having one or more risk factors does not mean you will definitely get cancer, but it may increase your overall risk.

Lifestyle and Medical Risk Factors

  • Smoking – a major risk factor; more common in areas with high tobacco use
  • Obesity – excess body fat can cause hormone changes that may lead to cancer
  • High blood pressure (hypertension) – very common in Michigan adults
  • Kidney failure or end-stage kidney disease – especially if you are on dialysis
  • Workplace exposures – long-term exposure to certain chemicals (e.g., some solvents)
  • Older age – most people diagnosed are over 50
  • Male sex – kidney cancer is about twice as common in men

Cold West Michigan winters can also contribute indirectly to risk by limiting outdoor activity and making it harder to maintain a healthy weight and blood pressure. Regular indoor exercise and healthy eating are especially important in Grand Rapids during the winter months.

Family History and Inherited Conditions

You may have a higher risk if:

  • You have a family history of kidney cancer, especially in a parent, brother, or sister
  • You have certain inherited (genetic) conditions, including:
    • von Hippel–Lindau disease
    • Hereditary papillary renal cell carcinoma (RCC)
    • Birt–Hogg–Dubé syndrome
    • Hereditary leiomyomatosis and RCC
    • Tuberous sclerosis
    • Lynch syndrome

If you are concerned about your family history or genetic risk, ask your Grand Rapids doctor for a referral to a genetic counselor at Spectrum Health, Trinity Health Grand Rapids, or another local cancer center.

Types of Kidney Cancer

Most kidney cancers are renal cell carcinoma (RCC), sometimes called renal cell adenocarcinoma. Usually, only one kidney is affected, but in rare cases both kidneys can be involved. As RCC grows, it can spread to nearby tissues and organs, and sometimes to distant parts of the body such as the lungs or bones.

Other types include:

  • Urothelial carcinoma (transitional cell carcinoma)

    • Starts in the lining of the kidney’s drainage system (renal pelvis)
    • Behaves more like bladder cancer and is treated differently than RCC

  • Wilms tumor (nephroblastoma)

    • The most common type of kidney cancer in younger children
    • Still rare overall and treated at specialized pediatric centers, such as Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital in Grand Rapids

  • Secondary (metastatic) cancer to the kidney

    • Very rarely, cancer can spread from another part of the body to the kidney

Stages and Grades of Kidney Cancer

Staging: How Far the Cancer Has Spread

The stage describes:

  • How large the tumor is
  • Whether it is confined to the kidney
  • Whether it has spread to nearby tissues or distant organs

Broadly:

  • Stages 1 and 2 – Early kidney cancer

    • Cancer is limited to the kidney

  • Stages 3 and 4 – Advanced kidney cancer

    • Cancer has spread beyond the kidney to nearby lymph nodes, blood vessels, or other parts of the body

Your Grand Rapids cancer care team will review your scan results and explain the stage in clear terms.

Grading: How Fast the Cancer Might Grow

The grade describes how abnormal the cancer cells look under the microscope and how quickly they are likely to grow.

In the United States, doctors often use:

  • Fuhrman grading system, or
  • International Society of Urological Pathology (ISUP) system

Both grade kidney cancer from 1 to 4:

  • Grade 1 – slowest-growing, less aggressive
  • Grade 4 – fastest-growing, more aggressive

Knowing the stage and grade helps your doctor plan the best treatment for you at a Grand Rapids cancer center.

Prognosis and Survival

A prognosis is your doctor’s opinion about:

  • How likely the cancer is to grow or spread
  • How well you might respond to treatment
  • Your chances of recovery or long-term control

Prognosis depends on:

  • The type of kidney cancer
  • The stage and grade
  • Your age and overall health
  • How well your kidneys and other organs are working

In most cases, the earlier kidney cancer is diagnosed, the better the chance of successful treatment. If you are diagnosed in Grand Rapids, your care team will discuss your individual situation openly and help you understand what to expect.

How Kidney Cancer Is Diagnosed in Grand Rapids

If your doctor suspects a kidney problem, they will first check your general health and look for signs of issues in your kidneys.

Initial Blood and Urine Tests

You may have:

  • Urine tests – look for blood, infection, or abnormal cells
  • Blood tests, including:
    • Complete blood count (CBC) – checks red and white blood cells and platelets
    • Kidney function tests – measure how well your kidneys are working
    • Blood chemistry tests – check electrolytes and other chemicals

These tests can show if there is a problem but do not diagnose kidney cancer on their own.

Imaging Tests

To look more closely at the kidneys, your doctor may order:

  • Ultrasound – a painless scan over your abdomen using sound waves
  • CT scan – detailed cross-sectional images of the kidneys and surrounding organs
  • MRI scan – uses magnetism and radio waves to create detailed images, especially useful if you can’t have contrast dye
  • Bone scan – uses a small amount of radioactive dye to look for cancer that has spread to the bones
  • PET scan – a specialized imaging test that can help detect active cancer cells

These imaging tests are usually very good at showing whether a kidney tumor is likely to be cancer.

Other Procedures

In some cases, your doctor may recommend:

  • Cystoscopy – if you have blood in your urine, a small camera is passed through the urethra into the bladder to look for other causes of bleeding
  • Biopsy – removal of a small sample of tissue from the kidney for examination under a microscope

Biopsy is a common way to diagnose many cancers, but it is not always needed for kidney cancer before treatment because imaging scans are often very clear.

Treatment for Kidney Cancer in Grand Rapids

Your treatment plan will depend on:

  • The stage and grade of the cancer
  • Your overall health and kidney function
  • Your preferences and goals

In Grand Rapids, kidney cancer care is available through multidisciplinary teams at Spectrum Health, Trinity Health Grand Rapids, Metro Health, and Mercy Health, often working closely with local primary care and urology clinics.

Treatment for Early Kidney Cancer

Active Surveillance (Observation)

When small tumors are found in the kidney, they are often less aggressive and may not grow quickly. In some older adults or people with other serious health problems, your doctor may recommend active surveillance, which involves:

  • Regular ultrasounds or CT scans
  • Periodic check-ins with your urologist or oncologist

If the tumor shows signs of growth or begins to cause symptoms, treatment will be offered.

Surgery – The Main Treatment

Surgery is the most common treatment for early kidney cancer that has not spread outside the kidney. Types of surgery include:

  • Partial nephrectomy (removing part of the kidney)

    • Often used for small tumors
    • Only the cancer and a small rim of healthy tissue are removed
    • Helps preserve kidney function, which is especially important for people with other kidney problems common in Michigan (like diabetes or high blood pressure)

  • Radical nephrectomy (removing the whole kidney)

    • More common for larger tumors
    • The entire affected kidney is removed, along with:
      • A small part of the ureter
      • Surrounding fatty tissue
      • Sometimes the adrenal gland and nearby lymph nodes

These operations can often be done using minimally invasive (laparoscopic or robotic) techniques at Grand Rapids hospitals, depending on your situation.

Other Local Treatments (When Surgery Is Not Possible)

If you are not well enough for surgery and the tumor is small, your doctor may recommend:

  • Thermal ablation – uses heat from a needle to destroy cancer cells
  • Cryotherapy – uses probes to freeze and kill cancer cells
  • Stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) – highly focused radiation that targets the tumor while limiting damage to nearby healthy tissue

These options may be available through specialized oncology programs in Grand Rapids.

Treatment for Advanced Kidney Cancer

Advanced kidney cancer means the cancer has spread beyond the kidney to nearby tissues or distant organs.

Treatment options may include:

Active Surveillance

If the cancer has spread but is growing very slowly and not causing symptoms, your doctor may recommend active surveillance with regular scans and check-ups. This approach can be appropriate for some older adults or people with other serious health issues.

Surgery for Advanced Cancer

In some cases, surgery may still be helpful:

  • Cytoreductive surgery – surgery to remove as much cancer as possible, which can include:
    • Removing the primary tumor in the kidney (nephrectomy)
    • Removing some or all of tumors that have spread to other parts of the body (metastasectomy)

Surgery is usually not recommended if you are very unwell or if the cancer has spread to many places in the body.

Systemic Treatments (Whole-Body Treatments)

Drugs that travel through the bloodstream to reach cancer cells throughout the body are called systemic treatments. For advanced kidney cancer, the main systemic treatments are:

Targeted Therapy

Targeted therapy drugs attack specific parts of cancer cells or the blood vessels that feed them. They can:

  • Slow or stop cancer growth
  • Shrink tumors
  • Help control symptoms

Your Grand Rapids oncologist will discuss the specific targeted therapy drugs that may be right for you.

Immunotherapy

There have been major advances in immunotherapy for advanced kidney cancer, especially with drugs called checkpoint inhibitors. These medicines help your own immune system recognize and attack cancer cells.

Immunotherapy may be used alone or in combination with targeted therapy. Ask your cancer team about:

  • Expected benefits
  • Possible side effects
  • How treatment is given (often as an IV infusion at a local cancer center)

Chemotherapy and Radiation Therapy

  • Chemotherapy is rarely used for kidney cancer because it is usually less effective than targeted therapy or immunotherapy.
  • Radiation therapy (radiotherapy) uses a controlled dose of radiation, such as focused X-ray beams, to:
    • Shrink tumors
    • Relieve pain or other symptoms

In advanced kidney cancer, radiation therapy is often used as a palliative treatment to improve comfort and quality of life, for example when cancer has spread to the bones.

Side Effects and Supportive Care

All cancer treatments can cause side effects, which vary from person to person. Common side effects may include:

  • Fatigue
  • Nausea or appetite changes
  • Skin changes
  • High blood pressure (with some targeted therapies)
  • Diarrhea or constipation
  • Changes in sexual function or desire

Your Grand Rapids treatment team will explain possible side effects before you start treatment and help you manage them. Let your doctor or nurse know about any side effects you experience—many can be reduced with medications, lifestyle changes, or supportive therapies.

Sexuality, Body Image, and Emotional Health

Having kidney cancer and going through treatment can affect:

  • How you feel about your body
  • Your relationships
  • Your interest in or comfort with sex

These changes can be upsetting and difficult to talk about, but they are very common. Doctors, nurses, and social workers in Grand Rapids cancer centers are used to discussing these issues and can:

  • Offer counseling
  • Refer you to a therapist who specializes in body image, sex, and relationships
  • Connect you with local or online support groups

Living With Advanced Kidney Cancer and Palliative Care

Advanced cancer usually means cancer that is unlikely to be cured, but many people live for months or years with advanced kidney cancer, especially with modern treatments.

What Palliative Care Can Offer

Palliative care is specialized medical care that focuses on:

  • Relieving pain and other symptoms
  • Supporting emotional, spiritual, and social needs
  • Improving quality of life for you and your family

Many people think palliative care is only for the very end of life, but it can be helpful at any stage of advanced cancer and can be provided alongside active treatments like:

  • Targeted therapy
  • Immunotherapy
  • Radiation therapy

In Grand Rapids, palliative care services are available through major hospital systems and community-based programs. Ask your doctor about local palliative care teams that can:

  • Help you live more comfortably
  • Support you in making decisions about your care
  • Provide resources for caregivers and family members

Smoking and Kidney Cancer

If you currently smoke, your health care team will strongly encourage you to quit before starting treatment, as smoking:

  • Increases surgical and anesthesia risks
  • Slows healing
  • May reduce how well some treatments work

Your Grand Rapids doctor can:

  • Refer you to local smoking cessation programs
  • Connect you with Michigan quit resources
  • Help you create a personalized quit plan

Support for Caregivers, Family, and Friends

Caring for someone with kidney cancer can be emotionally and physically demanding. Support is available in and around Grand Rapids through:

  • Hospital-based social workers and navigators
  • Local support groups (in-person and virtual)
  • Community organizations coordinated through Kent County Health Department and Grand Rapids Public Health

Caregivers are encouraged to:

  • Ask the treatment team questions
  • Take breaks and care for their own health
  • Reach out for emotional and practical support

Where to Get Help in Grand Rapids, MI

If you are worried about kidney cancer, have symptoms, or have been diagnosed, consider:

  • Your GP (primary care doctor) – first step for evaluation and referrals
  • Local urologists and oncologists – for specialized kidney cancer care
  • Grand Rapids health systems:
    • Spectrum Health (Corewell Health)
    • Trinity Health Grand Rapids
    • Metro Health
    • Mercy Health

You can also contact:

  • Kent County Health Department – information on local health resources and support
  • Grand Rapids Public Health programs – for screenings, education, and community services

Key Points About Kidney Cancer in Grand Rapids

  • Kidney cancer is twice as common in men as in women and is the 6th most diagnosed cancer in American men
  • The risk increases with age, and most cases occur in people over 50 years old
  • Most people with kidney cancer have no symptoms in the early stages
  • When symptoms occur, they can include:
    • Blood in the urine
    • Persistent side or back pain
    • A lump in the abdomen
    • Tiredness, weight loss, or unexplained fever
  • Not everyone with these symptoms has kidney cancer, but they should always be checked
  • If you are concerned, see your doctor in Grand Rapids promptly for evaluation and, if needed, referral to a local kidney cancer specialist

Early evaluation and access to the strong cancer care network in Grand Rapids, Michigan can make a significant difference in diagnosis, treatment options, and long-term outcomes.