Wilms family of tumors

Wilms family of tumors is a group of rare childhood cancers with a high cure rate. Most children receive an effective combination of surgery and radiation therapy or chemotherapy.

We provide these treatments at our cancer centers or at Advocate Children’s Hospital. Some children are treated for Wilms tumors in clinical trials. We actively participate in these trials and make sure you are aware of all available therapy options.

Advocate Children’s approach to childhood cancer care

Our expert cancer care team works with you and your child to find the best treatment and greatest chance for a cure. We get to know your whole family, with each appointment taking place in a comforting environment.

We have cancer centers in Park Ridge and Oak Lawn, letting your family avoid long, tiring drives into the city. Our social workers carefully organize appointments, bringing together the team you require and not keeping you longer than needed. On-call nurses are available 24/7 for questions and concerns.

About Wilms family of tumors in children

Wilms tumors affect the kidneys and usually develop before age 10. The disease can form in 1 kidney or both.

Some children might develop a Wilms tumor because of certain genetic conditions and birth disorders. Your pediatrician and other doctors help you monitor and test children who are at risk.

Many children survive Wilms tumors. Our specialized pediatric cancer doctors review your child’s specific symptoms and cancer stage with you, as well as the treatment options.

Wilms family of tumor signs and symptoms

With a Wilms tumor, parents often notice issues with a child’s belly, such as a lump, hard mass or swelling. Sometimes infants have a sudden increase in diaper size. Talk to your child’s pediatrician if you notice these problems.

Other symptoms include:

• Blood in the urine
• High blood pressure
• Anemia, or low levels of red blood cells
• Tiredness
• Fever that doesn’t go away

Diagnosing Wilms family of tumors in children

Our doctors have a few ways of diagnosing Wilms tumors, depending on your child’s symptoms. Common diagnostic and imaging tests include:

• Blood and urine tests
• Imaging such as X-rays
• Biopsies that take cancer cells so doctors can look at them under a microscope
• Sequencing tumor DNA to look for genetic changes, which can help guide treatment decisions

Wilms family of tumor stages

Staging cancer helps identify appropriate treatment. Our doctors determine the stage for a Wilms tumor after conducting a biopsy and looking at the cells under a microscope.

Staging also indicates if the tumor is located in one or both kidneys. It captures if the cancer has spread past the kidneys, and if so, whether it’s left the abdomen. And it provides special categories for tumors that don’t respond to treatment or that return.

Doctors review the stages with you and what they mean for treatment.

Wilms family of tumors treatment

Our doctors always take the time to thoroughly discuss treatment options with you. Recommendations are specific to your child and the staging information. Treatments include:

• Surgery: The surgeon takes out all or part of a kidney. They try to keep 1 full working kidney because people can still stay healthy that way. If that goal isn’t possible because both kidneys are affected by cancer, your child may need to go on dialysis. This treatment helps clean waste out of the body. There are two kinds of kidney surgeries:
• Radical nephrectomy: The surgeon removes the kidney, nearby tissue and lymph nodes.
• Partial nephrectomy: Surgeons take the tumor out but leave as much healthy kidney as possible.
• Chemotherapy: Doctors put drugs into the body that find and destroy cancer cells. Learn how chemotherapy works.
• Radiation therapy: Doctors use high-energy rays to treat cancer. There are many types of radiation therapy.

Support for your child and family

Childhood cancer impacts the whole family. We provide a child life specialist to help everyone adjust and cope during your child’s treatment. Read more about our support for your child and family, including:

• On-call nurses who can answer questions 24/7
• School assistance during and after treatment
• Free events and activities for your family

Wilms family of tumors survivorship and transition to adulthood

Wilms tumors and their treatment may result in health issues for survivors, particularly with their kidneys. They may also develop heart, lung or other problems.

Our Pediatric Oncology Survivors in Transition (P.O.S.T.) program helps your child and family safely move from cancer into survivorship. We meet regularly and support your child and family by:

• Celebrating survivorship
• Keeping track of follow-up exams and testing
• Watching for long-term or late effects of cancer, chemotherapy and radiation therapy
• Coordinating with our Adolescent Center and adult doctors during your child’s teen years