Treatment Options for Kidney Cancer

HOW IS KIDNEY CANCER TREATED?

Surgery (discussed below) is the primary treatment for kidney cancer. However, based on the cancer stage, your general health and age, your doctor will develop a treatment plan that best fits your needs using one or a combination of methods.

Below is a list of other possible cancer treatments. It is not meant to be exhaustive, but will give you an idea of the treatments available.

Arterial embolization: A procedure that blocks the main blood vessel for the kidney and shrinks the tumor. Sometimes it is used as a treatment for patients who cannot have surgery, or before surgery to reduce bleeding.

Chemotherapy: Drugs that are used to kill cancer cells. Although helpful in the treatment of many other cancers, kidney cancer does not always respond well to chemotherapy.

Radiation therapy: X-rays or other high-energy rays to kill cancer cells and shrink tumors. Although radiation therapy may be used to try to reduce metastasis, kidney cancer can be resistant to radiation therapy.

Immune therapy (also called immunotherapy, biological therapy or biological response modifier therapy): A form of treatment that uses the body’s natural ability (the immune system) to fight cancer. Interleukin 2 and interferon are types of biological therapy used to treat advanced kidney cancer. Many people having biological therapy need to stay in the hospital during treatment to have their side effects monitored.

Hormone therapy: Hormones to stop cancer cells from growing. Hormone therapy is used in a small number of patients with advanced kidney cancer although, more often, it is used as pain-relieving therapy.

Clinical trials (also called medical research or research studies): Studies designed to determine whether new drugs or treatments are both safe and effective. Get for more information about clinical trials.

WHAT IS A NEPHRECTOMY?

A nephrectomy is an operation to remove a kidney. Your doctor will decide if it’s best to remove a portion of your kidney or the entire kidney along with surrounding tissue. Provided that your other kidney is healthy, you will be able to live a completely normal life with just one kidney.

IS SURGERY A CURE FOR KIDNEY CANCER?

Although surgery is not always a cure, it is often successful in getting rid of the cancer. Doctors often use the term remission rather than cure because there is no guarantee that the disease will not return (or recur).

HOW LONG WILL IT TAKE TO RECOVER?

The length of time it takes to recover from an operation varies for each person. Nephrectomy is major surgery, and after the operation most people have pain and discomfort. You may find it difficult to breathe deeply due to discomfort from surgery, and you may have to do special coughing and breathing exercises to help keep your lungs clear. In addition, you may need IV feeding and fluids for several days before and after the operation. It is common for patients who have had surgery to feel tired or weak for a while.

CAN I SURVIVE WITHOUT A KIDNEY?

Although we have two kidneys, it is possible to live normally with one kidney because the remaining kidney is often able to take over the work of both. Only when both kidneys are removed do patients need dialysis (a process of machine-filtering the blood) or a kidney transplant.

WILL I NEED FOLLOW-UP CARE OR TREATMENT LIKE CHEMOTHERAPY OR RADIATION?

Based on your cancer’s stage and response to treatment, your doctor will decide if you need additional treatment. To check kidney function and to be sure that the cancer has not come back, follow-up appointments with your doctor may include:

• Chest X-rays
• CT scans
• Blood tests
• Urine tests

It is important to report any new symptoms to the doctor right away because the earlier problems are detected, the better.

WILL I BE BACK TO NORMAL AFTER THE SURGERY?

Quality of life after surgery will vary from patient to patient. For some, life after surgery is very similar to life before surgery. Others may require additional treatments such as chemotherapy or radiation, which can be associated with side effects. If both kidneys are removed, dialysis will likely be required to filter the blood.

Cancer treatment can make you feel tired so give yourself time to recover. Don’t feel you have to rush back to work or resume all of your normal activities right away.

Once you recover from surgery, do as much as you can to help yourself stay healthy and active such as quitting smoking, eating healthy foods like fruits, vegetables and whole grains, and exercising, as directed by your doctor.

IS IT NORMAL TO FEEL ANXIOUS AND SCARED?

Dealing with a serious illness is not easy. You may worry about:

• Getting all of the tumor removed
• The cancer coming back
• Medical tests
• Treatments
• Hospital stays
• Medical bills
• Holding onto your job
• Caring for your family
• Keeping up with daily activities

Doctors, nurses and other members of the health care team can answer many of your questions. Often, a social worker can suggest groups that can help with rehabilitation, emotional support, financial aid, transportation or home care. Meeting with a counselor or spiritual advisor can also be helpful if you want to talk about your feelings or discuss your concerns.

Just as each person is unique, so are each person’s needs and circumstances. Everyone handles challenging situations differently and it is natural to feel anxious and scared when faced with a diagnosis of cancer. Keep in mind that nonmedical factors such as exceptionally supportive family and friends, a positive outlook or a profound spiritual faith may help you better cope with the days ahead.