How Is It Treated?

Transcript

Surgery is the mainstay of treating localized kidney cancer and is often completely curative. What’s very important is that kidney cancer can behave in a very friendly, slow growing fashion that makes it somewhat unique amongst cancers. In some patients, the tumor discovered in the kidney, let’s say by accident, is so small and in relation to the patient’s age, the most appropriate treatment is no treatment at all. In these kinds of scenarios, the doctor may recommend active surveillance.

Active surveillance means close monitoring with periodic scans of your kidney to see if the growth is growing, and if so, at what rate. In many patients, the kidney tumor is never destined to harm you at all.

Key Takeaways

1. Surgery is the mainstay of treating localized kidney cancer and is often completely curative.

2. In some patients, the most appropriate treatment is no treatment at all.

3. The doctor may recommend active surveillance, which means close monitoring with periodic scans of your kidney to see if the growth is growing.

4. In many patients, the kidney tumor is never destined to harm you at all.