How Is Kidney Cancer Treated?

After visiting some local cancer specialists, you’ve received some scary news: you have kidney cancer. We understand that this is an overwhelming time. Fortunately, there is good news. According to the National Cancer Institute, in the next 10 years, the number of people living five or more years after a cancer diagnosis will increase by 30%. This is due to more advanced treatments and care. That being said, here’s how kidney cancer is treated, so you can have a better idea of what to expect.

Determining Cancer Stages

Skilled local cancer specialists will start by determining the stage of your cancer. Processes like blood and urine tests can help by tracking changes in your body while imaging tests can visually identify tumors. Your doctor might remove some kidney cells (a biopsy) to identify tumor risks.

Stage 1 is the best possible cancer stage because this means the tumor is smaller and is located only in the kidney. The later stages indicate that the tumor has grown or has moved to other parts of the body, which can be more dangerous but is still treatable.

Treating Your Cancer

Depending on the severity of your cancer (the stage and its spread), your therapy may vary. In some cases, the tumor is small enough to be removed itself (along with some surrounding tissue). Chemotherapy and radiation treatment can also reduce your tumors and help you avoid serious health consequences.

There’s the chance that the affected kidney might need to be removed or a significant portion of it. However, the goal of all kidney cancer treatment is to avoid that possibility (as much as possible). Other therapies may include cryoablation (freezing the cancerous cells) and radiofrequency ablation (heat therapy) to kill the affected areas without hurting the rest of the kidney to keep your body as healthy as possible.

Working with local cancer specialists can streamline your treatment, including making diagnosis easier, and ensure you get the support you need. You deserve to live a healthy and happy life free from cancer, and we can help! Call us today at Palo Verde Cancer Specialists for more information about our kidney cancer treatment options. We’re available to answer any treatment-related questions you may have for us.