|
| |
Kidney Cancer Surgery
Surgery to remove part or all of the kidney is often used to treat renal
cell cancer. The following types of surgery may be used:
Partial nephrectomy: A surgical procedure to remove the cancer within
the kidney and some of the tissue around it. A partial nephrectomy may be done to prevent
loss of kidney function when the other kidney is damaged or has already been removed.
Simple nephrectomy: A surgical procedure to remove the kidney only.
Radical nephrectomy: A surgical procedure to remove the kidney, the
adrenal gland, surrounding tissue, and, usually, nearby lymph nodes.
A person can live with part of 1 working kidney, but if both kidneys are
removed or not working, the person will need dialysis (a procedure to clean the blood
using a machine outside of the body) or a kidney transplant (replacement with a healthy
donated kidney). A kidney transplant may be done when the disease is in the kidney only
and a donated kidney can be found. If the patient has to wait for a donated kidney, other
treatment is given as needed.
When surgery to remove the cancer is not possible, a treatment called arterial
embolization may be used to shrink the tumor. A small incision is made and a catheter
(thin tube) is inserted into the main blood vessel that flows to the kidney. Small pieces
of a special gelatin sponge are injected through the catheter into the blood vessel. The
sponges block the blood flow to the kidney and prevent the cancer cells from getting
oxygen and other substances they need to grow.
Even if the doctor removes all the cancer that can be seen at the time of the surgery,
some patients may be given chemotherapy or radiation therapy after surgery to kill any
cancer cells that are left. Treatment given after the surgery, to increase the chances of
a cure, is called adjuvant therapy.
Information from National Cancer Institute
Kidney Cancer Picture | |
|