FORT SMITH, Ark. – Kyle Basham, MD, a urologist at Baptist Health-Fort Smith, is now offering a new treatment for patients with a rare and difficult to treat form of kidney cancer.
Jelmyto provides an effective, kidney-sparing option for patients with low-grade upper tract urothelial cancer (LG UTUC). LG UTUC is a rare cancer that develops in the lining of the upper urinary tract, ureters and kidneys. It is a challenging condition to treat due to the complex anatomy of the urinary tract system.
Jelmyto was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) last spring. Dr. Basham is the first in Arkansas to offer the Jelmyto treatment.
“Traditional treatment involves a radical nephrectomy, which is an invasive surgery to remove an entire kidney, and a long hospital stay with potential complications, but Jelmyto is a series of outpatient procedures,” said Dr. Basham. “We are excited to be the first in the state to bring this option to patients in the River Valley and improve their quality of life.”
Jelmyto consists of mitomycin, an established chemotherapy, and sterile hydrogel. During the procedure, it is injected into the urinary tract with a catheter. Jelmyto’s innovative gel technology is a liquid when chilled and turns into a gel at body temperature allowing the physician to place the treatment right in the area where the kidney tumors are. This makes Jelmyto different from traditional chemotherapy, which goes everywhere in the body. The gel bathes the tissue until it is naturally flushed out by the body. The process is repeated once a week for at least six weeks.
Dr. Basham practices at Baptist Health Urology Clinic-Fort Smith, 5500 Ellsworth Road. For more information on the treatment or to schedule an appointment, call (479) 709-7295.
For 100 years, Baptist Health has delivered All Our Best in health care through Christian compassion and innovative services. Baptist Health is Arkansas’ most comprehensive health care organization with more than 250 points of access that include 11 hospitals; urgent care centers; a senior living community; over 100 primary and specialty care clinics; a college with studies in nursing and allied health; a graduate residency program; and access to virtual care anytime, anywhere. It is also the largest private not-for-profit health care organization based in Arkansas, providing care through the support of approximately 11,000 employees, groundbreaking treatments, renowned physicians and community outreach programs. For more information about Baptist Health, visit baptist-health.com, call Baptist Health HealthLine at 1-888-BAPTIST or download the myBaptistHealth app. Find us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.