Kidney Cancer Treatment
What Does Kidney Cancer Treatment Involve?
Kidney cancer treatment is designed to remove the tumour and eliminate other problems caused by the disease (such as the commonly associated paraneoplastic syndromes).
The therapies used depend on the stage at which the cancer is detected. It also depends on the patient’s general state of health (performance status).
The diagnosis is made with the help of tests such as renal and abdominal ultrasounds, abdominal (and possibly pelvic and thoracic) CT (computed tomography) scans and in some cases nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR).
The therapy chosen depends on the final diagnosis and staging.
What are the Treatments for Kidney Cancer?
Depending on the type of tumour, the staging and the patient’s general state of health, different therapeutic options may exist.
Kidney cancer treatment therefore depends on its stage. As a rule, it is surgical. In localised tumours, the treatment can be curative and fully eliminate the disease. If the tumour is very advanced, the treatment can include other types of therapy in addition to surgery.
In localised tumours, the most effective and commonly used treatment today is laparoscopic surgery (laparoscopic nephrectomy). This can be radical, with total removal of the affected kidney, or partial, where only the tumour and surrounding tissue are removed.
In some cases, minimally invasive therapies can be performed, such as cryotherapy, radiofrequency therapy or radiology.
At more advanced stages, systemic therapy (chemotherapy or immunotherapy), radiotherapy or palliative therapies may be necessary.
What is the Post-Treatment Patient Care?
Every patient must have a follow-up plan which may include consultations with other specialists in addition to a urologist during a period that varies according to the therapy and clinical evolution.
The assessment done in these follow-up consultations aims to detect any local recurrence, a contralateral renal neoplasm or a metastisation via the various imaging devices available. Renal function should also be monitored with blood and urine tests and possibly other exams such as those used by nuclear medicine.
If the patient has undergone surgery, follow-up must last at least 5 years depending always on the staging, size of the tumour and the results of the anatomopathological examination of the sample.
Want to know more about kidney cancer treatments?
Dr. José Santos Dias
Clinical Director of the Instituto da Próstata
- Bacherlor's Degree from the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Lisbon
- Specialist in Urology
- Fellow of the European Board of Urology
- Autor dos livros "Tudo o que sempre quis saber Sobre Próstata", "Urologia fundamental na Prática Clínica", "Urologia em 10 minutos","Casos Clínicos de Urologia" e "Protocolos de Urgência em Urologia"
FAQs about Kidney Cancer
Que exames são feitos antes do Tratamento do Tumor do Rim?
Quais são os Tratamentos para o Tumor do Rim?
Que tipos de cirurgia existem para o tratamento do Tumor do Rim?
O doente recebe acompanhamento pós-tratamento?
References
- DIAS, José Santos. Urologia Fundamental: na prática clínica. Lisboa: Lidel - Edições Técnicas, Lda, 2010.
- Kidney Cancer Treatments - https://www.nm.org/conditions-and-care-areas/cancer-care/genitourinary-cancer-care/kidney-cancer/treatments
- Living as a Kidney Cancer Survivor - https://www.cancer.org/cancer/kidney-cancer/after-treatment/follow-up.html