Treatments for kidney cancer
If you have kidney cancer, your healthcare team will create a treatment plan just for you. It will be based on your health and specific information about the cancer. When deciding which treatments to offer for kidney cancer, your healthcare team will consider:
-
the
stage - whether one or both of your kidneys are working
- whether the cancer is in one or both kidneys
- the type of kidney cancer
- your overall health
Treatments for stage 1 kidney cancer
The main treatment for stage I kidney cancer is removal of the kidney. Learn about treatment options for kidney cancer.
Treatments for stage 2 kidney cancer
Stage II kidney cancer is treated with surgery, but there are other options if you can’t have surgery. Learn about treatments for stage II kidney cancer.
Treatments for stage 3 kidney cancer
Surgery to remove the whole kidney is the standard treatment for stage 3 kidney cancer. Learn about treatment options for stage 3 kidney cancer.
Treatments for stage 4 kidney cancer
Targeted therapy is the treatment for stage IV kidney cancer, but surgery may be done first. Learn about treatment options for stage IV kidney cancer.
Treatments for recurrent kidney cancer
Treatment for recurrent kidney cancer depends on where the cancer has come back and what treatment you’ve already had. Learn about treatment options.
Surgery for kidney cancer
Most people with kidney cancer will have surgery to remove part of the kidney or the whole kidney. Learn about the surgeries for kidney cancer.
Targeted therapy for kidney cancer
Targeted therapy uses drugs that target proteins on the cancer cells. It is used for advanced kidney cancer. Learn about targeted therapies.
Immunotherapy for kidney cancer
Immunotherapy for kidney cancer uses the drug interferon. Learn about immunotherapy for kidney cancer.
Radiation therapy for kidney cancer
External beam radiation therapy may be used to treat pain and bleeding from kidney cancer. Learn about radiation therapy for kidney cancer.
Arterial embolization for kidney cancer
Arterial embolization blocks the blood supply to the kidney to shrink the kidney tumour in people who can’t have surgery. Learn about arterial embolization.
Ablation therapy for kidney cancer
Ablation therapies destroy kidney cancer using heat or cold in people who can’t have surgery. Learn about ablation therapies.
Active surveillance for kidney cancer
If you have kidney cancer but don’t have any symptoms, you may be offered active surveillance. This means that your healthcare team watches the cancer closely rather than giving treatment right away. They will use tests and examine you to see if the kidney cancer is growing or spreading.
Follow-up after treatment for kidney cancer
Follow-up after kidney cancer varies. Learn about scheduled follow-up appointments and the procedures and tests that may be done.