Renal Cancer

Renal cancer is typically treated by removing the tumour. If the tumour is just in your kidney this method may be the only option. If cancer has spread to other body organs another treatment method will be suggested by your doctor.

The best method depends on the frequency of factors such as

• Health
• Type of renal carcinoma
• The extent of tumour spread
• Preferred treatment method

Surgical Treatment

Various kidney tumours are only treated with surgery. Surgery is performed to eliminate the tumour without affecting the function of the kidney. If you have kidney carcinoma your healthcare personnel may perform one of the following operations:

• Nephrectomy: A method in which the entire damaged kidney is removed completely. During this process, the surgeon will perform a nephrectomy by making several incisions in the abdomen also called laparoscopic or robotic-assisted laparoscopic nephrectomy.
• Kidney-Sparing Surgery. The procedure eliminates the tumour and a small border of healthy tissue that are present around it instead of the whole kidney. It can be performed as an open procedure, with robotic assistance. It is also called a partial nephrectomy.

Kidney-sparing surgery is a typical treatment method for minor kidney malignancies and it may be a choice if you have only one kidney. To minimize the chances of later complications such as kidney disease and the need for dialysis kidney-sparing surgery is preferred over a complete nephrectomy to sustain kidney function.

Nonsurgical Treatments

Nonsurgical methods are used to treat minor kidney cancers. These treatments include heat and cold. These methods are typically used for people suffering from other diseases.

Other methods may include:

• Cryoablation: In this method, the tumor is frozen by using a cold needle. The needle is introduced into the tumour by using image guidance.
• Radio-frequency Ablation. This procedure is done by inserting a probe into the kidney tumour using imaging guidance. Cancer cells are destroyed by a current that burns them by using a needle.

Treatment Methods for Severe Renal Cancer

Serious renal carcinomas that are difficult to cure are treated by using the following methods:

• Surgery: Surgery is performed to remove metastatic cancer. Surgeons try to remove the tumour completely.
• Targeted Therapy: This method of treatment targets certain aberrations in the cancerous cells. After blocking these aberrations, targeted medicines are used which cause the death of cancer cells. Before this, your doctor may suggest checking which medicine is best.
• Immunotherapy: In Immunotherapy your immune system is used to combat the tumour. Normally, cancer cells produce a specific type of protein that guard against the body's immune system. However, immunotherapy interferes with this process and strengthens the immune system against cancer.
• Radiation Therapy: Radiation therapy is performed by killing the cancer cells using high energy beams such as X-rays and protons. This therapy is also used to minimize the symptoms of renal cancer that has reached the brain and bones

Alternative Medicine

For cancer, there are no alternative medicines. If you are suffering from cancer your stress level is also increased. In this case, integrative medicine treatments are suggested to cope with your stress such as:

• Art
• Regular exercising
• Massage therapy
• Meditation
• Music therapy
• Relaxation exercises
• Spirituality