Treatments for Kidney Cancer
Kidney cancer is a fatal disease. The cells in the kidney become cancerous, multiply without control, and form a tumor. A majority of kidney cancers first occur in the tiny tubes lining of the kidney.
Despite being sometimes fatal, kidney cancer, when detected at an early stage, is curable. Most of the times, kidney cancer is detected before the cancerous cells spread to other organs.
If you are wondering what could be the best way to cure this disease, here are some effective treatments for kidney cancer.
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Active surveillance
In cases of small tumors, no treatment for kidney cancer is given initially. The growth of the tumor is actively observed. If the tumor grows rapidly then the medical practitioner opts for another treatment option. This method works best for aged or weak patients to avoid the hassle of a surgery. Many-a-times, after a biopsy and close observation, these tumors are found to be non-cancerous.
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Surgery
In a surgery, the tumor, and some of the healthy tissues around it, are removed. This is possible when cancer has not spread beyond the kidneys. In some cases, a part of the kidney or the entire organ is also removed. Some of the known surgical options are radical nephrectomy, partial nephrectomy, and laparoscopic and robotic surgery.
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Radiation therapy
In a radiation therapy, high-energy X-rays are used to destroy cancer cells. It is not an effective treatment for kidney cancer and may also cause damage to the healthy part of the kidney. It is recommended for patients who cannot undergo a surgery. Radiation is given not to the primary tumor area but only to the areas where cancer has spread. It is used to ease the symptoms in the patient.
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Chemotherapy
In chemotherapy, drugs are used to destroy cancer cells. It kills the ability of the cancer cells to grow and divide. Systemic chemotherapy goes through the bloodstream to reach cancer cells located throughout the body. Chemotherapy is given through a needle and an intravenous vein (IV) tube inserted into the vein of the patient or through a pill or capsule swallowed orally.
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Immunotherapy
This is also known as biologic therapy. It boosts the natural defenses of the body that enable the patient to fight cancer. Materials used are either made in the laboratory or in the body. They target, enhance, and restore the immune system function. Some of the common immunotherapy methods include interleukin-2, alpha-interferon, and immune checkpoint inhibitors.
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Local therapies
Apart from all this, local therapies like cryotherapy, radiofrequency ablation, and arterial embolization are also used as treatments for kidney cancer. In the first method, extreme cold is used to destroy the cancer cells. In the second approach, high-energy radio waves heat the tumor with the help of electric current and assist to destroy the cancer cells. The third method blocks the artery, which feeds the kidney affected with the tumor.
The best treatment for kidney cancer depends on varied factors like cancer type, cell type, patient’s overall health, and cancer stage, among others. It is best to consult the doctor and get the treatment for kidney cancer that suits the patient the best.
