Caring for Cancer Patients Who Have Kidney Issues
Nephrology is a medical specialty that focuses on the kidneys. Onco-Nephrology is a subspecialty that relates to kidney problems or diseases that may happen due to cancer or its treatments.
The Onco-Nephrology Clinic at Huntsman Cancer Institute brings together experts in nephrology, multiple myeloma, amyloidosis, and blood and marrow transplant.
The purpose is to recognize and treat people with kidney issues as well as help prevent kidney issues from happening. People may be current cancer patients, or be experiencing late effects of previous cancer treatments.
Types of kidney problems might include the following:
- Acute kidney injury, when the kidneys suddenly stop working and can鈥檛 filter waste products from the blood
- Electrolyte abnormalities, when important minerals in the body such as sodium and calcium are not in balance
- Hypertension, or high blood pressure
- Proteinuria, or high amounts of protein in the urine
The Onco-Nephrology Clinic provides specialized care to address all aspects of kidney disease and kidney issues in cancer patients.