There are different treatment options for kidney cancer that one can avail of. The treatment method is guided by the patient’s history, present condition, symptoms, and severity of cancer. Generally, kidney cancer is treated with targeted therapy, surgery, immunotherapy, or a combination of any of these options. It is very rare to see chemotherapy being used for this kind of cancer. A combination of therapies is used when you are dealing with metastatic cancer.
Surveillance: One of the different treatment options for kidney cancer is using a cautious approach. The best way to stay ahead of the condition is to monitor it through diagnostic tests and clinic visits. This works for people who have kidney cancer but exhibit a few or no symptoms of the same.
Surgery
- Radical Nephrectomy: In this surgery, the entire tumor, kidney, and surrounding tissues are removed. Depending on the spread of the tumor, the surrounding lymph nodes and nearby tissues are also removed.
- Partial Nephrectomy: In a partial nephrectomy, the function of the kidney is preserved. This helps to lower the risks of developing other chronic kidney diseases post-surgery. This kind of surgery is highly successful in T1 tumors. Fewer side effects and a faster recovery period are the advantages of this procedure.
- Minimally Invasive Surgery: This is another of the different treatment options for kidney cancer. Here, the surgeon makes a small incision to insert telescopic instruments to conduct any of the above surgeries.
Non-surgical treatments
- Cryoablation: In this process, extreme cold is used to destroy the tissue affected by cancer.
- Radio Frequency Ablation: RFA was earlier used to monitor the patients who were too sick to undergo surgery. It is one of the different treatment options for kidney cancer where an interventional radiologist inserts a needle into the tumor to destroy it using an electrical current. Generally, the patient is sedated before the procedure is conducted.
Therapies
- Targeted Therapy: This kind of therapy involves targeting the cancer-specific genes, tissues, or proteins that contribute to cancer growth. The treatment blocks the development and prevents the spread of cancer cells. This limits the damage caused to healthy cells.
- Immunotherapy: Unlike the previous therapy, biological therapy or immunotherapy seeks to boost the immune system, thereby improving the ability of the body to fight cancer cells. IL-2, Alpha-interferon, and Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors are the different kinds of immunotherapy that may be employed. Check with your physician about the side effects and the right treatment option for you.
- Chemotherapy: This kind of therapy involves the use of medications to help destroy cancer cells. Among the different treatment options for cancer, this one is more well-known than the others, although it isn’t always the first choice for kidney cancer. It usually keeps cancer cells from growing or dividing. Based on your condition, the surgeon/physician will prescribe several cycles over a period.
