Kidney Cancer Treatment

What Does Kidney Cancer Treatment Involve?

The treatment of kidney tumors aims not only to eliminate the tumor itself but also to address other issues caused by the disease, such as the paraneoplastic syndromes often associated with this tumor. The choice of therapy depends on the staging of the tumor, as the best approach depends on the stage at which it is detected. Additionally, treatment is influenced by the patient's overall health and functional status.

For appropriate treatment planning, it is necessary to utilize complementary diagnostic exams such as renal ultrasound, contrast-enhanced computed tomography, or, in some cases, nuclear magnetic resonance.

What are the Treatments for Kidney Cancer?

Depending on the type of tumor, staging, and the patient's overall condition, there may be different therapeutic options.

As a rule, treatment is surgical. In localized tumors, this treatment can be curative and completely eliminate the disease. If the tumor is more advanced, treatment may include options beyond surgery.

For localized tumors, the most effective and commonly used treatment currently is surgery, specifically nephrectomy. Depending on the tumor's characteristics and the patient, this can be either partial (removing only the tumor with a safety margin) or radical (complete removal of the kidney). In the majority of cases, minimally invasive surgery is possible (laparoscopic nephrectomy), which is associated with a lower rate of complications and allows for a faster recovery. In some cases, focal therapies like cryotherapy or radiofrequency treatment can be considered.

In advanced stages, due to the aggressive nature of the disease, most treatments have a palliative focus. Apart from surgery, systemic therapy or radiation therapy may be performed. However, in recent years, significant advancements have been made in systemic treatments, particularly immunotherapy, which, through the combination of various drugs, has significantly increased the survival and quality of life for patients with advanced kidney tumors.

Laparoscopic Surgery for Treating Kidney Cancer

Laparoscopic surgery consists of removing the whole kidney or just the tumour and adjacent tissue by laparoscopy.

See Treatment

What is the Post-Treatment Patient Care?

The primary objectives of post-treatment monitoring are the detection of potential disease recurrence (whether local, in the contralateral kidney, retroperitoneal lymph nodes, or other organs) and the surveillance of renal function.

The plan to be established primarily depends on the type of kidney tumor, which is categorized based on the pathological analysis of the surgical specimen and the prior staging. The type of treatment performed also impacts the frequency of follow-up.

Usually, follow-up appointments are more frequent in the initial phase and may become less frequent over time. Typically, this involves assessments through laboratory tests and imaging exams such as renal ultrasound, computed tomography, or nuclear magnetic resonance.

Want to know more about kidney cancer treatments?

Book a diagnosis consultation at the Instituto da Próstata if you have any symptoms associated with the disease or wish to know more about the treatments.

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Dr. José Santos Dias

Clinical Director of the Instituto da Próstata

Bacherlor's Degree from the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Lisbon
Specialist in Urology
Fellow of the European Board of Urology
Autor dos livros "Tudo o que sempre quis saber Sobre Próstata", "Urologia fundamental na Prática Clínica", "Urologia em 10 minutos","Casos Clínicos de Urologia" e "Protocolos de Urgência em Urologia"

See Biography