Wilms tumor is usually diagnosed in children at about three years of age. Wilms tumor is also sometimes referred to as nephroblastoma or kidney cancer.
The vast majority of children with Wilms tumor have cancer that involves only one kidney. On rare occasions, the disease may be found in both kidneys.
This disease occurs in about 1 out of 200,000 to 250,000 children. There are about 500 cases of Wilms tumor in the United States each year.
Why choose the Cancer Therapy & Research Center (CTRC) for Wilms tumor?
The CTRC is the only National Cancer Institute (NCI) designated cancer center in Central and South Texas. Our board-certified pediatric oncologists are well-known experts in the management of Wilms tumor.
While at the CTRC, your family will have:
A team that includes:
- Pediatric oncologists
- Radiation oncologists
- Child psychologists as well as child-life personnel who specialize in helping kids adjust to cancer diagnosis and treatment.
- Individualized treatment for your child
- A coordinated treatment plan: Your child’s care is developed based on extensive discussion during our pediatric oncology tumor boards.
Childhood Cancer Survivorship Program: Our Childhood Cancer Survivorship Program allows you and your child to maintain regular contact with health care providers who understand cancer and its treatment, have immediate access to information related to cancer survival, learn about prevention and early detection of possible late effects
- We believe in prevention and early detection of possible issues for survivors, and we address long-term side effects that can arise as children grow and enter adolescence or adulthood.
- Transition support and services: We assist you as your child ages from pediatric care into adult health care services.
- Genetic counseling evaluation: This support is critical in assessing the risk of developing Wilms tumor in children with known syndromes or risk factors. In some situations, we may recommend screening with ultrasound of the kidneys.
Our pediatric oncology physicians are part of UTKids, the Health Science Center’s pediatric practice, and our physicians are affiliated with University Health Systems Children’s Health.
Clinical trials at the CTRC
Our pediatric oncology team can offer opportunities for new cancer treatments and cancer detection tests.
The CTRC has 10 board-certified pediatric oncology physicians who participate and lead many clinical trials offered through the Children’s Oncology Group. We offer studies that are sponsored by national and international pediatric cancer groups, including those focused on childhood Wilms tumors.
We are active members in the Pediatric Oncology Experimental Therapeutics Investigators Consortium, which offers the newest therapies and studies for children with cancer.
Make an appointment
To request an appointment with our team or to make a referral to one of our physicians, please call the CTRC main number: (210) 450-1000 or 800-340-2872 or email CTRCReferral@uthscsa.edu.