What Are the Treatments for Advanced Kidney Cancer?

Kidney cancer is the abnormal growth or reproduction of cells in your kidneys. Your kidneys are located near your spine, behind your abdominal organs. Kidney cancer is also referred to as renal cell carcinoma. Surgery is often the first treatment for kidney cancer. In advanced cases, where surgery can't remove the tumors, other treatment options are available.

Embolization

• Embolization blocks the blood vessel into your kidney. Along with blood flow, the tumor also is deprived of nutrients and oxygen.

Cryoablation

• Cryoablation is the process where the tumors in your kidney are frozen. To freeze the tumors, your doctor injects gas into the tumors through needles that he inserts through small incisions in your skin.

Biological Therapy

• Biological therapy or immunotherapy uses your body's own ability to fight disease to fight kidney cancer. Your doctor injects interferon and interleukin-2 into your body. These two drugs are man-made versions of chemicals your body makes naturally to fight disease.

Radiation Therapy

• Radiation therapy kills cancer cells with the use of high-energy waves. Radiation therapy is commonly used when kidney cancer has spread to other parts of your body, a frequent occurrence with the advanced form of the disease.

Targeted Treatments

• Treatments are available that target different aspects of kidney cancer's growth. The drugs sorafenib and sunitinib help block nutrients from entering cancerous growths, while Temsirolimus hinders a tumor's growth.