Kidney Cancer Treatment Options

A kidney cancer diagnosis can cause a lot of fear and anxiety in a patient for a lot of good reasons. There is a variety of different treatment options available, and the disease is by no means a death sentence. Many people hear the word cancer and automatically fear the worst, but with the advances in medicine, there is hope. This guide covers the main treatments available and how they are implemented.

Surgery

One of the most common ways that kidney cancer is treated is through surgery. The surgical procedure to remove the kidney is known as a nephrectomy. The severity of the surgery depends on how far along the cancer has progressed and spread to neighboring sites. There are three major types of surgery. Radical is the removal of the entire kidney, adrenal glands and the surrounding tissue. Simple is the removal of the kidney, and partial involves removing the cancerous part of the kidney.

Other treatment options

Other less common treatments are also used to treat kidney cancer. One such treatment is the use of radiotherapy. This involves the use of high energy x-rays that target and kill cancerous cells that have traveled elsewhere. Immunotherapy uses the body's own immune system and laboratory made immunity to help restore the ability to fight back. Another common treatment is chemotherapy, or the use of drugs to combat the cancerous cells. Another treatment that is used in advanced kidney cancer patients is hormone therapy that targets the cells and reduces their ability to grow.

Overall, a kidney cancer diagnosis is not the end of the world, and there is treatment available. The important thing to remember is that you can beat it with the right medical help and a collaborative plan from your oncologist.

With the advances in medicine there is hope

by William Rudloff, Medical writer