Advanced Kidney Cancer Treatment in New Jersey
After a kidney cancer diagnosis, the first step in your journey through treatment is to have a frank and meaningful conversation with your oncologist. Your doctor will explain cancer staging, risk factors, and possible treatments and their side effects. You will have an opportunity to ask questions and share your treatment preferences.
At RWJBarnabas Health, we believe kidney cancer treatment should be highly personal and individualized. Our physicians are compassionate, skilled professionals. Together, you and your care team can shape a custom treatment plan that works for you and your lifestyle.
Our multidisciplinary oncology teams bring together a variety of experts to advise and manage kidney cancer treatment and care. Your team may include a urologist, urologic oncologist, medical oncologist, radiation oncologist and other specially trained medical support professionals.
Kidney Cancer Staging
Kidney cancer staging is determined through diagnostic testing. Staging describes where the cancer is located, whether or not it has spread, if it has begun to affect other areas of the body, and where. Stages range from stage I, in which the cancer is localized to one organ, to stage IV, in which cancer has spread to the lymph nodes and/or other organs in the body. Staging informs your oncologist of the best kidney cancer treatment options for you.
Active Surveillance of Kidney Cancer
If a tumor is very small — under 5 centimeters in size — and is not showing any signs of growing or spreading, your care team may recommend active surveillance, which involves closely monitoring the tumor with regular clinical appointments and diagnostic tests.
Active surveillance may also may be recommended for elderly people or those who have serious health conditions that do not make them viable candidates for more aggressive forms of therapy.
Kidney Cancer Surgery
Kidney cancer surgery refers to the medical procedure to remove a tumor and any tissues in the body that were affected by cancer. Depending on your stage, this may involve removing either a portion of the kidney or all of the kidney and the surrounding tissue and lymph nodes, if the kidney cancer has spread to those locations. If the tumor has not spread beyond the kidney, it may be the only course of kidney cancer treatment required. Common kidney cancer surgery options include:
- Laparoscopic surgery. This minimally-invasive kidney cancer surgery is performed using keyhole incisions and robotic tools to remove the tumor. It is an option for those with early stages of kidney cancer.
- Partial nephrectomy. This form of kidney cancer surgery involves the partial removal of the kidney and is an option during earlier stages of kidney cancer. The kidney can retain function following this procedure.
- Radical nephrectomy. This form of kidney cancer surgery involves the total removal of the tumor, entire kidney, and nearby tissue and lymph nodes, if affected. It leaves the remaining kidney to do the work of both kidneys.
Radiation Therapy
In radiation therapy, a radiation oncologist uses high energy X-rays to destroy cancer cells. This form of kidney cancer treatment is often performed in conjunction with other therapies, as it is seldom sufficient in eradicating the cancer alone. It is generally used when kidney cancer has spread to other organs, the bones or the brain.
Radiation therapy can be used when a patient is not a viable candidate for kidney cancer surgery due to advanced age or other serious health issues.
It is also helpful in treating symptoms such as pain and swelling of the brain.
Ablation Therapy
Ablation therapy destroys cancerous cells through the use of energy. The two main types of ablation therapy used to treat kidney cancer include the following:
- Radiofrequency ablation (RFA). A needle charged with an electrical current is inserted into the location site to destroy the cancerous tumor. Administered by an interventional radiologist or urologist, RFA is an option for those who are not a candidate for other therapies due to advanced age or health.
- Cryoablation. Also referred to as cryotherapy or cryosurgery, this kidney cancer treatment is administered by an interventional radiologist who uses a probe that is guided with imaging equipment such as computed tomography (CT) or ultrasound to freeze the cancer cells. This procedure is sometimes combined with laparoscopic surgery.
Other Therapies for Kidney Cancer
- Chemotherapy. This kidney cancer treatment uses one or more medicines to kill cancer cells or shrink tumors. Often administered in cycles, chemotherapy is regarded as very effective against many, but not all types of cancer. Urothelial carcinoma, a type of bladder cancer, and Wilms' tumor, a type of kidney cancer often associated with children are often treated successfully with chemotherapy.
- Immunotherapy. This kidney cancer treatment uses medicines to trigger your immune system to fight the cancer.
- Targeted therapy drugs. Oncologists use medications to block cancer growth by targeting the specific genes of proteins that are responsible for informing the cancer’s growth and expansion.
Supportive Care
Supportive care involves services that can help you manage various aspects of life that are affected by cancer. Therapy and support groups enable people with cancer to manage stress, cope with the emotional impact of a cancer diagnosis, and deal with treatment and its side effects. These are tools that can help you adjust to the many changes in your life.
Leading-Edge Kidney Cancer Treatment in New Jersey
RJWJBarnabas Health is part of the largest healthcare system in New Jersey. Patients who trust us with their kidney cancer treatment will receive care from our team of multidisciplinary oncologists, surgeons, urologists, pathologists, advanced practice nurses, oncology nurse navigators, nutritionists, oncology support professionals and pastoral care staff who oversee your journey with expertise and compassion.
To schedule an appointment with one of New Jersey’s best kidney cancer specialists, call 844-CANCERNJ or 844-226-2376.