SCOTTSBLUFF, Neb., ― Regional West is raising awareness about kidney cancer, its symptoms, and risk factors during Kidney Cancer Awareness Month in March.

According to the American Cancer Society, kidney cancer, or renal cancer, is among the 10 most common cancers in both men and women. Approximately 81,000 new cases of kidney cancer will be diagnosed in the U.S. this year. Early kidney cancers do not typically present any signs, but possible symptoms can include blood in the urine, low back pain on one side, feeling a lump on the side or lower back, fatigue, loss of appetite, and anemia.

Though kidney cancer is primarily diagnosed in people age 64 and older, Leslie Cook, RN, a nurse manager in Regional West Physicians Clinic, was diagnosed with kidney cancer while pregnant with her oldest daughter, Lily.

“I woke up one morning and just didn’t feel great, but I thought it was my gestational diabetes. I was 32 weeks pregnant at the time,” Cook said. “I went to work, but I felt woozy, and a coworker told me I should check my temperature. I had a fever of 100.2 F, and that’s when my left side began to hurt.”

After Cook went home, her fever climbed to 102.2 F. She went to Urgent Care, but tests ruled out urinary tract and kidney infections. However, her white blood cell count was high. A renal ultrasound revealed a mass the size of a tennis ball on her kidney.

“I was 37 years old, with no family history of kidney cancer, and about to have my first baby. It’s not something anybody was expecting,” she said.

A biopsy had to wait until the baby arrived. In the weeks leading up to her daughter’s birth, Cook met with urologists and had an MRI to make a game plan. The MRI showed the tumor was spread throughout the kidney, so the entire kidney needed to be removed.

Cook had surgery on April 23, 2015, one month after her daughter was born. Surgeons removed a stage 1, grade 2 clear cell renal carcinoma, and Cook was able to go home after seven days in the hospital. Including the kidney, the mass was around the size of a cantaloupe. Luckily, the cancer didn’t spread past the kidney, so Cook did not have to undergo chemotherapy or radiation.

A physical exam with your physician or provider can help rule out or diagnose kidney cancer. To lower your risk, it’s recommended to not smoke or to quit smoking, keep a healthy weight and diet, and exercise regularly. After her experience, Cook stressed the importance of being an advocate for your own health.

“If you’re not feeling well, or if you’re having side pain, fevers, and blood in the urine, seek medical help,” Cook said. “You should also be aware if you have any family history of cancer. My dad had bladder cancer, but he didn’t pursue treatment options well and unfortunately, he’s no longer with us. Quit the habits that cause cancer and take care of your health.”

Regional West Physicians Clinic-Nephrology offers comprehensive inpatient and outpatient diagnosis, care, and long-term management of kidney disease in patients age 19 and older. The clinic specializes in conditions such as chronic kidney disease (CKD), hypertension, acute renal failure, and more. Find out more about the clinic’s services by calling 308-630-2101, or visit https://www.rwhs.org/services/other-services/nephrology.

For exceptional cancer care, turn to Regional West’s Cancer Services. By combining personalized care with advanced treatment options, the Cancer Services team provides comprehensive, compassionate cancer services to patients in western Nebraska, eastern Wyoming, and northeastern Colorado. An integrated, multidisciplinary approach for patients and their families has earned program accreditation by the American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer. To learn more, call 308-630-1348 or visit https://www.rwhs.org/services/cancer/cancer-services.

Regional West Health Services in Scottsbluff, Neb., is the parent company of Regional West Medical Center, a 188-bed regional referral center and the only Level II Trauma Center in Nebraska west of Kearney. As the region’s only tertiary referral medical center, Regional West offers care that spans more than 32 medical specialties provided by over 28 physician clinics. With nearly 300 in-network providers and approximately 2,000 staff members, Regional West provides comprehensive and innovative healthcare services for the people of western Nebraska and the neighboring states of Colorado, South Dakota, and Wyoming.