In the Onco-Nephrology Clinic nephrologists evaluate and treat adults with cancer who have kidney disease because of the cancer or due to the cancer therapy. The clinic is available at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. Mayo has one of the largest kidney teams in the country and cares for more than 26,340 people with chronic kidney disease each year.
There is a growing need to care for people with cancer-related kidney conditions. This is partly due to people with cancer living longer thanks to advances in cancer treatments. However, some of the cancer treatments can cause unintended side effects, including kidney injury. Older people with cancer tend to be at increased risk of kidney injury from cancer drugs. Or they go into cancer treatment with chronic kidney disease and become cancer survivors living with kidney disease.
When your cancer and kidney doctors work together, side effects and kidney injury may be limited.
The nephrologists of the Onco-Nephrology Clinic work with a multidisciplinary team of doctors trained in cancer conditions (oncologists), blood disorders (hematologists), pharmacists and other fields. Together this team provides comprehensive, coordinated care for people with cancer who have complex or serious needs related to their kidneys. With this team-based model of care, evaluation and a treatment plan often can be developed in days.
Who might benefit from visiting the Onco-Nephrology Clinic?
Doctors of the Onco-Nephrology Clinic may evaluate and treat people before, during or after cancer therapy who:
- Have a high risk of kidney disease.
- Have existing kidney disease.
- Develop kidney disease or kidney complications after cancer therapy.
Services include:
- Offering advice and guidance to people with a high risk of kidney disease or existing kidney disease before cancer therapy and evaluating how to prevent, monitor and treat kidney conditions.
- Discussing cancer treatment options with oncologists for people at high risk of kidney disease or existing kidney disease.
- Providing treatment for kidney conditions, supportive therapy with medicines, and at times dialysis, which is also called renal replacement therapy.
- Monitoring people with kidney disease or at risk of kidney disease before and during cancer therapy with regular imaging tests and blood tests to look for signs of kidney complications.
- Monitoring and treating kidney complications, including hypertension, that may develop during cancer therapy as a result of taking certain chemotherapy drugs or receiving radiation therapy to the abdomen.
- Monitoring people who receive a kidney transplant, as they are at higher risk for cancer.
- Monitoring people who may need cancer therapy that might interfere with medicine they're taking for kidney transplant to suppress the immune system.
- Screening for kidney complications after cancer therapy, especially in people who have taken certain chemotherapy drugs or have had radiation therapy to the abdomen.
- Treating kidney conditions or complications that may develop after cancer therapy due to specific chemotherapy drugs or radiation therapy to the abdomen.
- Providing lifestyle coaching for people after cancer therapy, such as eating a healthy diet and exercising.
Talk with your oncologist about whether you might benefit from a referral to the Onco-Nephrology Clinic. The experts of the clinic can help ensure you receive the most appropriate cancer therapy while reducing your risk of kidney problems.
Conditions treated
Research
Researchers in nephrology, oncology and other areas study cancer therapy and its effect on the kidneys. They study the use of imaging tests before, during and after cancer therapy to monitor the kidney condition and evaluate the risk of kidney disease. They also study how new cancer agents affect the kidneys compared with conventional chemotherapy. Examples of new approaches are immunotherapies such as CAR-T cell therapy and immuno checkpoint inhibitors.
Physician-scientists with special training in treating the kidneys also research how cancer patients live with kidney conditions and how to improve their quality of life.
Appointments
You may be referred to the Onco-Nephrology Clinic at Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, by your oncologist.
Make a referral
Mayo Clinic physicians are committed to collaborating with referring physicians. Telephone consultations and referrals may be arranged by contacting the Referring Physician Service.
Doctors may refer a patient to the Onco-Nephrology Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, by calling 800-533-1564.
Contact
Minnesota
Oct. 14, 2023