Onconephrology Services

Kidney cancer, cancer somewhere else in the body, and cancer treatment itself can affect the kidneys' ability to maintain electrolyte levels, control blood pressure, and regulate fluid levels. Onconephrology is a medical subspecialty that monitors and manages kidney function in people with a cancer diagnosis.

If you have kidney disease and receive a cancer diagnosis, our kidney care team will monitor your kidney function to look for problems. If your kidneys aren’t working well, your care team will try to find the cause and develop a treatment plan to help.

What Is Onconephrology? 

Your kidneys do many things for your body, including maintaining electrolyte levels, controlling blood pressure, and regulating fluid levels. As a result, your kidneys can be affected by diseases occurring elsewhere in your body, especially cancer.

Onconephrology is a subspecialty of nephrology. Onconephrology specialists focus on monitoring and managing kidney function in people with a cancer diagnosis.

What Onconephrology Conditions Do We Treat? 

Our team treats all types of kidney disorders caused by cancer or cancer treatment.

Common causes of kidney problems caused by cancer or cancer treatment include:

• Dehydration — The most common cause of kidney damage during cancer treatment. Chemotherapy or other cancer treatments often make you feel sick or tired. If you don't drink enough water or eat enough, it can lead to dehydration and kidney injury.
• Drugs that treat cancer — Some cancer drugs can hurt the kidneys. You may need to switch medications or seek treatment for your kidney problems during your cancer treatment.
• Extra waste in the blood — If you're going through cancer treatment and it's a success, the waste from the tumor often enters your bloodstream. Your kidneys must work extra hard to filter that waste, which can lead to a short-term reduction in kidney function.

Who’s Eligible for Onconephrology Services?

Anyone who receives a cancer diagnosis or who is having cancer treatment may be eligible for onconephrology care.

What Onconephrology Services Do We Offer? 

Treating kidney disease caused by cancer or cancer treatment is complex. The experts at the UPMC will help you design a treatment plan that's right for you.

We'll explain the treatments that will help you the most, which may include:

Lifestyle changes

If you experience electrolyte issues caused by cancer treatment, lifestyle changes can sometimes be enough to improve your kidney health.

You'll work with your kidney doctor and a nutritionist to:

• Improve your diet.
• Increase your intake of fluids.
• Avoid foods that might affect electrolyte levels.

Medication

There's a range of drugs that can support your kidneys during cancer treatment.

Your doctor may prescribe medicine to:

• Control your blood pressure.
• Correct electrolyte imbalances.
• Reduce swelling in your kidneys.
• Treat kidney disease symptoms to improve quality of life.

Dialysis

A sudden or acute kidney injury can cause the kidneys to have trouble cleaning waste from the blood. In this case, a dialysis machine may be needed.

Types of dialysis include:

• Hemodialysis — Hemodialysis is given at a dialysis clinic or at home. It typically takes four hours several times per week.
• Peritoneal dialysis — This form of dialysis takes more time. It is performed at home daily, often while you sleep.

Kidney transplant

In some cases, people who have kidney damage due to cancer may enter kidney failure or end-stage kidney disease. A transplant is often the preferred treatment for kidney failure when your cancer is in remission. 

We work closely with UPMC experts to provide this life-saving care. We’ll guide you through every process step, from evaluation to recovery.

What Can I Expect? 

Most people don't notice the symptoms of kidney disease, so your cancer doctor will test your kidney function routinely during your cancer treatment.

Tests include:

• A blood pressure test.
• Blood work.
• Ultrasound of your kidney.
• Urine tests.

If any of your results are abnormal, your cancer doctor will refer you to a UPMC nephrologist for onconephrology care. Our nephrologists are experts in how cancer affects the kidneys. We'll work with you to learn the cause of your kidney problems and develop a treatment plan.

Why Choose UPMC for Onconephrology Services? 

When you choose UPMC for onconephrology care, you will receive:

• Access to world-class nephrology expertise — Our nephrologists have deep knowledge of how cancer and cancer treatment affect the kidneys.
• A full range of treatment options — Our kidney experts partner with the world-renowned cancer doctors at UPMC Hillman Cancer Center to provide complete care.
• Multidisciplinary care — Our team will work with you and your cancer doctor to find the cause of your kidney disease and reverse it or slow its progression.

The link between cancers, cancer treatment, and the kidney is complex. At UPMC, you can receive the focused onconephrology care you need.

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By UPMC Editorial Staff. Last reviewed on 2025-04-24.