Kidney Cancer Treatment in Lake Mary, Florida (FL)
Over 90 percent of all kidney cancers are renal cell carcinoma
which isn’t generally responsive to traditional chemotherapy or
radiation. The treatment of choice for renal cell carcinoma is removal
of cancerous tissue through surgery, radiofrequency ablation (targeted
heat treatment) or cryoablation (targeted cold treatment.)
There
are several systemic treatments your doctor may consider for late stages
of kidney cancer. In selecting a treatment plan which is right for you,
your doctor will consider your age and overall health, the tumor’s
size, its staging, and how aggressively the cancer is spreading in your
body
Surgery for Kidney Cancer
According to the Society of Interventional Radiology, the current gold standard of kidney cancer treatment is a partial nephrectomy in which just the cancerous portion of the kidney is removed, and healthy kidney tissue is left intact. Your doctor will also remove any cancer which has metastasized (spread) to lymph nodes, tissues, or other organs.Partial nephrectomy is effective for smaller tumors (less than 7 cm in diameter). For larger tumors a radical nephrectomy is performed where the entire kidney is removed, along with affected adrenal glands, lymph nodes, and any other affected tissue.
Your doctor may specialize in laparoscopic or "keyhole" nephrectomy in which a tiny tube with a camera (laparoscope) is inserted through small cuts in the abdomen to access the diseased kidney. Cancerous tissue is then removed through the small incisions. Laparoscopic surgery often results in a shorter recovery time and less pain than traditional open incision surgery.
Sometimes when one kidney is removed, the other kidney doesn’t function properly. In this case, dialysis or a kidney transplant may be indicated.
Ablation is a promising new therapy in which heat or cold precisely targets cancer cells. Cryoablation uses cold to kill cancer cells, while radiofrequency ablation uses heat to kill cancer cells. Both ablation techniques spare healthy kidney tissue and are less invasive than traditional open surgeries. Ablation is performed under general anesthesia or conscious sedation, and patients are often able to resume normal activity within a few days of surgery.
Treatments for Late Stages of Kidney Cancer
If your kidney cancer is inoperable or has progressed to stage IV (metastasized beyond the kidney), your doctor may administer cytokine therapy which uses interleukin-2 or interferon to target cancer cells. There are serious side effects for cytokine therapy. New kidney cancer therapies involve drugs such as sorafenib, sunitinib, and everolimus which directly target molecules which fuel cancer cell growth.If cancer has spread to nearby veins, your doctor may perform arterial embolization in which a special liquid is injected by catheter (small tube) into the vein to block blood flow to the affected kidney and tumor. Tumor growth is either stunted or the tumor shrinks with decreased blood supply.
Some patients experience an improved quality of life after arterial embolization. Sometimes the tumor shrinks sufficiently so that ablation can be performed.
Discuss these options with your urologist to determine the best treatment plan for you.
About Charles N. Witten, MD
Dr. Witten
received his B.A. in Biology from the University of Pennsylvania in
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1980. He subsequently completed his
medical education at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine in
1984. He returned to Philadelphia to complete his General Surgical and
Urological Surgery Residencies at the Hospital of the University of
Pennsylvania from 1984 - 1990. The University of Pennsylvania's
Urological Surgery Residency is considered on of the top training
programs in the country. He served as chief resident his final year.
Dr. Witten joined Central Florida Urology Associates after completing
his residency in 1990. He has been board-certified by The American
Board of Urology since 1992.
Dr. Witten
has served on numerous hospital committees including chairmanships of
surgical peer review and credentials committees. He has served on the
Education Committee for the Seminole County Medical Society. From
2002-2005, he served as Chairman of the Department of Urology at
Florida. During his tenure, the hospital procured the DaVinci Robot to
perform robotic assisted laparoscopic surgery.
Dr.
Witten's particular areas of interest include prostate, bladder and
renal cancers; urinary incontinence; erectile dysfunction with emphasis
on penile implant surgery; male infertility; microscopic surgery
including vasectomy reversal; DaVinci robotic radical prostatectomy;
laparoscopic urological surgery, and management of Benign Prostatic
Hyperplasia with minimally invasive techniques including microwave
thermotherapy and green light laser Photo-vaporization (PVP) of the
prostate.
Dr. Witten
is an active member of The American Urological Society, The American
Association of Clinical Urologist, The American Fertility Society, The
Florida Urological Society and The Seminole County Medical Society. He
is married with four children and resides in Lake Mary, Florida.
Featured Specialist for Kidney Cancer Treatment in Lake Mary, FL
Call Now: (407) 287-5443 210 Rinehart RoadSuite 1000Lake Mary, FL 32746
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More Services from Charles N. Witten, MD
- Female Incontinence
- Peyronie's Disease Treatment
- Vasectomy Reversal
- Male Infertility
- Urologic Oncology
- Erectile Dysfunction
- Urinary Incontinence
- Kidney Stones
- Benign Prostatic Hyperlasia
- da Vinci for Prostatectomy
- Impotence
- Incontinence Treatment
- Kidney Stones Treatment
- Laparoscopy
- Penile Procedures
- Prostate Cancer Screening
- Prostate Ultrasound and Biopsy
- Prostatitis (Chronic Pelvic Pain)
- Urinary Tract Infection
- Vasectomy
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