7. Radiofrequency Ablation
Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is a minimally invasive procedure used to treat small tumors, including those in the kidney. During the procedure, a thin needle is inserted through the skin and into the tumor. Once the needle is in place, high-frequency radio waves are passed through it, generating heat that destroys the cancer cells.
RFA is typically performed under imaging guidance, such as ultrasound or CT, to ensure accurate placement of the needle and to monitor the progress of the procedure. RFA can be an effective treatment option for small renal tumors, and it can be done as an outpatient procedure with minimal recovery time.
6. Checkpoint Inhibitor Therapy
Checkpoint inhibitor therapy is a type of immunotherapy that is used to treat kidney cancer (also known as renal cell carcinoma). The therapy works by blocking certain proteins, called checkpoint proteins, that cancer cells use to evade the immune system. By blocking these proteins, checkpoint inhibitors “unmask” the cancer cells and make them visible to the immune system, which can then attack and destroy them.
There are different types of checkpoint inhibitors, including drugs that target the proteins CTLA-4 and PD-1. These drugs have been shown to be effective in treating advanced kidney cancer, and are often used in combination with other treatments such as targeted therapy or traditional chemotherapy.
5. Adoptive Cell Therapy
Adoptive cell therapy (ACT) is a type of cancer treatment that involves removing cells from a patient’s body, genetically modifying them to enhance their ability to recognize and attack cancer cells, and then infusing them back into the patient.
One approach to ACT for kidney cancer is to use T cells, a type of white blood cell that plays a critical role in the immune system’s response to cancer. It is still an experimental treatment, only offered in clinical trials.
4. Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy is a type of cancer treatment that uses drugs to destroy cancer cells. In the case of kidney cancer, chemotherapy may be used as a part of a treatment plan that also includes surgery and/or radiation therapy. The drugs used in chemotherapy enter the bloodstream and travel throughout the body, making them useful for cancers that have spread to other parts of the body.
Chemotherapy can be administered in several ways, including orally (by mouth) or intravenously (through a vein). The choice of chemotherapy drugs and the treatment schedule will be determined by the patient’s individual case and the stage of their cancer.
3. External Beam Radiation Therapy (EBRT)
External Beam Radiation Therapy (EBRT) is a type of radiation therapy that uses high-energy beams, such as X-rays or protons, to kill cancer cells. In the case of kidney cancer, EBRT can be used to shrink a tumor before surgery, kill any remaining cancer cells after surgery, or alleviate symptoms caused by advanced kidney cancer that has spread to other parts of the body.
During EBRT treatment, the patient lies on a table while a machine delivers the radiation from outside the body to the target area. The treatment usually takes several minutes and is usually given on an outpatient basis, several times a week for several weeks.
2. Brachytherapy
In the case of kidney cancer, brachytherapy can be performed by implanting small radioactive seeds directly into the tumor using a long thin tube called a catheter. This is usually done through a small incision in the skin or using laparoscopic surgery, which uses small incisions and specialized instruments to access the kidney.
It is important to note that brachytherapy is usually used in conjunction with other treatments like surgery or external beam radiation therapy. It’s also a treatment option for patients who are not eligible for surgery due to other medical conditions.
1. Partial Nephrectomy
Partial nephrectomy is a surgical procedure used to treat kidney cancer by removing the tumor and a margin of healthy tissue surrounding it while preserving as much of the remaining healthy kidney tissue as possible.
This is done in order to preserve as much kidney function as possible and is particularly useful for patients with a single small tumor or multiple small tumors in one kidney.
These are kidney cancer symptoms and treatments worth knowing about.