Cancer of the Kidney & Interventional Radiology
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 Sarasota Interventional Radiology |
| Interventional Radiologist Dr. Gerald Grubbs |
| Kidney Cancer: An Overview |
| Risk Factors & Symptoms of Kidney Cancer |
| Diagnosing Kidney Cancer |
| » Needle Biopsy |
| » Large Core Needle Biopsy |
| » Fine Needle Aspiration |
| What to Expect During Treatment |
| Minimally Invasive Kidney Cancer Treatment |
| » Radiofrequency Ablation (RFA) |
| » Advanced Renal Cell Carcinoma and Interventional Radiology: Arterial Embolization |
| Cancer Treatments: On the Horizon |
| » Magnetic Chemotherapy |
| » Gene Therapy |
| » Developing Treatments |
| Contact Us |
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Interventional Radiology Offers New Hope
The rapidly growing
specialty of Interventional Radiology
offers those with kidney cancer new minimally invasive approaches for diagnosis and treatment that hold the promise of less pain, quicker recoveries and a better quality of life. |
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Sarasota Interventional Radiology
Interventional radiology is the surgery of the 21st century and it is revolutionizing modern health care by changing the way we treat a host of conditions.
Cancer is just one example. Interventional radiology treats it as a chronic condition; something you live with, not something you die from. So our goal at
Sarasota Interventional Radiology
is to get your cancer under control and put it in remission. If your tumors start to grow again, we can often perform additional procedures to eradicate them and reset your clock – your tumors – to zero. And in the process restore your quality of life.
Our
kidney cancer treatment program
is generally less costly and time-consuming than traditional surgical treatments. And happily, most patients usually experience less pain and shorter recovery periods. And the technology we have at the office allows us to provide you with immediate answers to your critical questions.
We believe in treating the whole person at Sarasota Interventional Radiology. We understand how difficult battling this disease can be. So you and your family can count on our support through every step of the process, from providing critical information to making sure you’re comfortable when you receive treatment.
Our office will be happy to try to accommodate any special needs you may have and will inform you of any special preparations you need to make before your appointment.
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Interventional Radiologist Dr. Gerald Grubbs
A native of Tennessee, Dr. Gerald Grubbs attended college and medical school there before going on to complete his residency at the University of Tennessee in Diagnostic Radiology.
Excited at how the new field of interventional radiology was revolutionizing minimally invasive surgery – and by the benefits it held for patients – the doctor took a Fellowship in Cardiovascular and Interventional Radiology at the Miami Cardiac and Vascular Institute at the Baptist Hospital of Miami. It was there he learned the basics of many of the procedures he’s now performing. In 1993, after completing his Fellowship, Dr. Grubbs received his Board Certification in Interventional Radiology from the American Board of Radiology.
The following year, Dr, Grubbs moved to the Suncoast and joined Naples Radiologists, P.A. doing Diagnostic as well as Vascular and Interventional Radiology. In 2006 he opened his own practice, Sarasota Interventional Radiology. Here he brings his skills in imaging, his procedural expertise, his experience in research and his clinical practice to offer minimally invasive diagnostics and treatments for patients whose conditions would have once required open surgery.
The author of numerous articles and a noted lecturer, Dr. Grubbs lives with his wife and two children in Osprey.
Learn more about Dr. Grubbs background and experience
Learn more about Dr. Grubbs
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Kidney Cancer: An Overview
FYI: Some facts about kidney cancer
- Each year more than 32,000 Americans are diagnosed with cancer of the kidney, making it the 8th most common cancer among men and the 10th most common among women.
- Nearly 85% of those diagnosed with the disease have renal cell carcinomas, a form of cancer that forms in that part of the kidney that filters blood and produces urine. When it spreads, it generally spreads to the other kidney, nearby lymph nodes, lungs, bones, and liver.
While the best chance of a cure is the surgical removal of tumors, Interventional radiology offers those patients that may not tolerate kidney cancer surgery because of other medical conditions a minimally invasive alternative.
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Risk Factors & Symptoms of Kidney Cancer
Kidney cancer is most often found in people past the age of 40 and men are twice as likely to be diagnosed with the disease. Other risk factors include:
- Smoking
- Obesity
- High blood pressure
- Long-term dialysis
- Von Hippel-Lindau syndrome
Unfortunately, the incidence of kidney cancer is on the rise. The good news is that advances in imaging technology has led to the earlier detection of tumors that used to go undetected until the disease had advanced. Now, small tumors are often discovered during CTs, MRIs and ultrasounds being performed for some other reason.
Early symptoms of kidney cancer may include:
- Blood in the urine
- A pain in the side that doesn’t go away
- A lump or mass in the side of the abdomen
- Weight loss
- Fever
- Feeling very tired
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Diagnosing Kidney Cancer
Blood tests, X-rays, CT scans, MIRs and ultrasound can all be used for
kidney cancer diagnosis
. Ultimately however, only a biopsy can provide a definitive diagnosis. By examining a sample of tissue, a Pathologist can determine whether cancer is present and how fast it’s growing, crucial information to determining the best course of treatment.
Using minimally invasive interventional radiology techniques, Dr. Grubbs is able to perform biopsies in his office.
There are two types of biopsies: Needle and Large core needle.
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Needle Biopsy
This procedure is performed with the aid of computer-generated images that provide Dr. Grubbs with a look at the area to be biopsied from a variety of angles. This “stereotactic” equipment provides pictures of unprecedented clarity, enabling the doctor to pinpoint with unerring accuracy the exact location of any abnormal tissue.
Usually an outpatient procedure, this diagnostic tool offers a number of benefits:
- None of the pain, scarring or complications associated with invasive surgery.
- A quicker recovery for a quicker return to normal activities.
- Complications are infrequent; less than 1% of patients develop bleeding or infection.
- For most patients, a needle biopsy provides enough tissue for diagnosis.
- With advanced image guidance, the biopsy can be performed without threat to surrounding organs and blood vessels.
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Large Core Needle Biopsy
This technique uses a special needle to obtain a larger sample of tissue. Often used to examine lumps and other abnormalities in the breast, a large core biopsy offers women an alternative to open surgery that is:
- Less painful
- Quicker recovery
- Avoids the scarring and disfigurement
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Fine Needle Aspiration
Also used to biopsy a suspected cancer, this technique also helps in the diagnosis of fluids that may have collected in the body. |
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What to Expect During Treatment
Your comfort is of primary concern to all of us at Sarasota Interventional Radiology. We understand that this can be a difficult time and treatment – even non-invasive treatment – can be stressful. That’s why we want you to know what you can expect during your visits with us. The better informed you are, the more comfortable you’ll be. Of course, if you have any questions at all, don’t hesitate to contact us. We’ll be happy to address any concerns you have.
Your 1st Appointment
Located in a serene setting on Cattleman near University just east of US 75, Sarasota Interventional Radiology is located on the first floor of the new Axcess Center.
We suggest arriving about 15 minutes before your appointment. You’ll be greeted by one of our two patient advocates. Highly trained and compassionate, these advocates will collect all your pertinent information and work with your insurance company.
You’ll then have a consultation with Dr. Grubbs, where he will review your medical history and discuss your planned course of treatment, taking you through the process step by step so you are informed and aware.
Before leaving the office, you’ll receive written instructions on how to prepare for your treatment.
The Night Before Your Procedure
Here’s what you need to do the night before to prepare for your procedure. It’s important you follow these instructions carefully, or it will be necessary to cancel your treatment that day. More importantly, failure to follow these instructions could be dangerous.
- Have nothing to eat or drink for at least 6 hours prior to your procedure.
- Take all of your normal medications before 8am with only one ounce of water. Do not take anything else or we will have to cancel your treatment that day.
- Bring a list of all your current medications and the doses you are taking.
- If you have an inhaler at home, you must bring it with you when you come in for your procedure.
- If you are a diabetic, start your medication once you resume your diet.
- If you are a diabetic taking insulin, wait until you have eaten to use your insulin.
- You cannot drive after your procedure for the remainder of the day. You must make arrangements to have someone drive you home.
Please leave all your valuables at home. You won’t need them.
The Day of Treatment
A nurse and board-certified anesthesiologist will prep you for your treatment. You’ll be administered what is called “conscious sedation”, which will allow you to wake up right away after your procedure – another of the benefits of minimally invasive treatment. Of course, in the extremely rare circumstance of complications occurring, Dr. Grubbs is always available.
After Treatment
Discharge instructions will vary, depending on the procedure you had. It is essential you follow these instructions carefully.
In the days following your procedure, you may feel a degree of tenderness at the site where the catheter entered. This is perfectly normal. Generally there is little or no bleeding around the site and the tenderness will pass. If there the tenderness continues, if there is bleeding or excessive oozing from the site, call us, or your referring physician, immediately.
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Minimally Invasive Kidney Cancer Treatment
While the best chance of a cure is the surgical removal of tumors, Interventional radiology offers those patients that may not tolerate surgery because of other medical conditions a minimally invasive alternative. Indeed, the National Cancer Institute says, “targeted cancer therapies give doctors a better way to tailor cancer treatment.”
While the best chance of a cure is the surgical removal of tumors, Interventional radiology offers those patients that may not tolerate surgery because of other medical conditions a minimally invasive alternative. Indeed, the National Cancer Institute says, “targeted cancer therapies give doctors a better way to tailor cancer treatment.”
As an interventional radiologist, Dr. Grubbs is uniquely skilled at using a catheter to deliver treatments to specially targeted areas of the body. Called Thermal Ablation, this treatment uses heat or cold to attack the cancer. Among the
Thermal Ablation procedures
used by Dr. Grubbs are: |
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Radiofrequency Ablation (RFA)
By using advanced imaging technology to guide a small needle through the skin and into the tumor, Dr. Grubbs is able to transmit radiofrequency energy into the target. There it produces heat that kills the tumor, while sparing the surrounding healthy tissue.
For someone living with inoperable kidney cancer, RFA can extend and provide a better quality of life. And like most radiological treatments, RFA can be performed in Dr. Grubbs’ office on an outpatient basis. Among its many other benefits:
- Depending on your comfort level, it can be done under conscious sedation or a general anesthesia.
- Most patients can resume normal activity the next day and may only feel a bit tired for a few days.
- If needed, RFA treatments can be repeated.
- RFA can be effectively combined with other treatment options.
- Relieves pain and the suffering that accompanies it.
While surgical removal is the standard treatment for cancer of the kidney, those patients at risk from surgery, other illnesses, recurrent tumors, borderline kidney function and only one kidney can benefit from minimally invasive, kidney sparing interventional radiology. |
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Advanced Renal Cell Carcinoma and Interventional Radiology:Arterial Embolization
The interventional radiologist injects small solid particles or special liquid agents into an artery through a catheter to block the flow of blood to the kidney and starve the tumor. For some, the tumor may shrink enough that surgery becomes feasible, for others it is a solution that eliminates some symptoms and so improves the quality of life. |
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New Cancer Treatments Hold Promise for the Future
Interventional Radiologists like Dr. Gerald Grubbs are playing a critical role in developing minimally invasive surgical techniques for treating cancer that are not only extendi
ng life, they are providing a higher quality of life. |
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Magnetic Chemotherapy
Using magnets to pull chemotherapy drugs directly into tumors to bolster their effect is a treatment currently being investigated by researchers. Early research is promising and the hope is that the treatment will intensify the effects of chemotherapy, while avoiding some of the more difficult side effects such as nausea and hair loss that accompany it. |
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Gene Therapy
As researchers’ work with and gain a greater understanding of genes and the role they play in disease, the greater promise gene- based drug therapies hold as a treatment option in the not too distant future.
Though still in the experimental stage, doctors hope the therapy will be used in the future to:
- Alter the cells of the immune system with cancer fighting genes.
- Alter the cells of the immune system with cancer fighting genes.
- Replace a “bad” cancer gene with a “good” gene.
- Make tumors more susceptible to chemotherapy by injecting them with genes.
- Make bone marrow and other organs resistant to chemotherapy, so that the drugs will destroy tumors without damaging the healthy tissue that surrounds them.
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Developing Treatments
Other cutting edge developments for cancer treatment include:
- Epidermal Growth Factor Inhibitors designed to slow the growth of the Epidermal growth factor receptor that XXXXX.
Anti-angiogenesis treatments
are the use of drug therapies to reduce blood vessel growth for cancer. |
