If you’ve been diagnosed with kidney cancer, you probably know that it’s often treated with surgery. However, you may not be aware that there are several other options available. A few treatment options are listed below. You may want to find out more about these treatments before undergoing surgery. Aside from surgery, you may also try targeted therapy to shrink the tumor. This treatment will help kill cancer cells and shrink the tumor. If all else fails, chemotherapy may be your best option.
Tumors in the kidney can be graded by the extent to which they look like healthy cells. The higher the grade, the higher the likelihood of metastasizing. Clear cells make up 70% of kidney cancers and range in growth rate from slow (grade 1) to fast (grade 4). In these cases, immunotherapy and targeted therapy are particularly effective. But even then, treatment options may differ based on the type of cancer cells present.
Some inherited conditions can increase your risk of kidney cancer. For example, people with high blood pressure may be at an increased risk of developing kidney cancer. Also, if you have a family history of kidney cancer, there is a higher risk of developing it than in people without kidney disease. However, there are other risk factors, including exposure to metals. Metals used in mining and welding may increase the risk of kidney cancer. Some people are not aware that they might have an inherited genetic disorder or an environmental factor.
A patient with kidney cancer should know that the survival rate for the disease depends on the size and location of the tumour. A small tumour may not grow in a lifetime, but regular CT scans will help your physician determine if the tumour is advancing. If the tumour is small, the surgery will likely only remove a portion of the affected kidney. For a child with a kidney tumour, surgery is the most common option. A partial nephrectomy will remove a small portion of the affected kidney.
After diagnosis, your doctor will conduct a physical examination and test for signs and symptoms of the disease. They will check your blood pressure and urine for signs of infection or blood in your urine. Your healthcare provider may refer you to a specialist if the cancer is suspected. Keeping a healthy weight and not smoking will lower your risk of developing kidney cancer. Treatment options will depend on the size and location of the tumour as well as whether it’s spread to other parts of the body.
A doctor will first order tests to diagnose the type of tumor and determine the size and location of the tumor. X-rays will also help your doctor determine the size of the tumor and how far it has spread. If the tumor has spread, your doctor may prescribe surgery to remove it. But if the tumor is still present, further tests may be required to confirm the diagnosis. If surgery doesn’t work, you may need to undergo another test, such as a CT scan with a contrast dye.
