Kidney cancer treatment depends on several factors, such as the patient’s overall health, the kind of cancer, whether the cancer has spread and the preference of the patient. There are a few different treatment types for kidney cancer as listed below.

• Surgical treatments
  Among the different treatment types for kidney cancer, this treatment option aims to preserve the normal functioning of the kidney. The surgery performed could be of the following two types.
  • Nephrectomy  is the removal of the affected kidney. This process is also known as a complete or radical nephrectomy. In this process, the entire kidney and some healthy tissues are removed; in some cases, a few additional tissues, such as the lymph nodes and the adrenal gland, are also removed. This process can be performed through a single incision in the abdomen or side, known as an open nephrectomy, or by making small incisions in the abdomen, known as laparoscopic or robotic-assisted laparoscopic nephrectomy.
  • Partial nephrectomy  is the removal of the tumor from the kidney. In addition to the cancer, the doctor would remove some healthy tissue that surrounds the kidney. Also known as kidney-sparing or nephron-sparing surgery, this method is most often used for small kidney cancers and if the patient has only one kidney. This is also a preferred treatment option as it helps to preserve kidney function and to reduce the risk of complications later, such as kidney disease and the need for dialysis.
• Non-surgical treatments
  Non-surgical methods for kidney cancer are used when the cancer is small and when performing a surgical procedure is risky due to other health issues. The different treatment types for kidney cancer that does not involve surgery are as follows.
  • Cryoablation  involves freezing the cancer cells. In this method, a hollow needle is inserted into the tumor using ultrasound or image guidance. Cold gas in the needle is then used to freeze the cancer cells.
  • Radiofrequency ablation uses heat to destroy cancer cells. A probe is inserted into the tumor with the help of ultrasound or other imaging guides. Electrical current passed through the probe causes the cancer cells to heat up or burn, thus, destroying them.
• Different treatment types for kidney cancer
  The treatments are for both advanced and recurrent cancer. Recurrent and advanced kidney cancer cannot be cured. However, the treatments available can help you to cope with and manage your condition better. These include the following.
  • Surgery procedures to remove as much of the cancer as possible are performed. Surgery may also be used to remove cancer that has spread to another part of the body.
  • Targeted therapy  involves using specific drugs to block certain abnormalities within the cancer cell, causing them to die.
  • Immunotherapy uses medications to boost the immune system to help it fight the cancer more effectively.
  • Radiation therapy uses high-powered energy rays, such as x-rays or proton rays, to destroy the cancer cells. It can be used to control kidney cancer that has spread to other parts of the body, such as the brain and bones.

Now that you are aware about the different types of kidney cancer,   you would have better discussions with your medical team regarding your treatment plan.