Kidney Cancer Treatment in Arlington, Texas (TX)
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 Weber W. Chuang, MD
Weber W. Chuang, M.D. grew up in Memphis, TN, where he was salutatorian
of his high school class as well as a National Merit Finalist. He
received his undergraduate degree in Biology from Stanford University in
Palo Alto, CA during which time he spent a semester studying the
English health care system at Oxford University in Oxford, England.
He
attended medical school at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, TX
and remained at Baylor to serve his general surgery internship and then
his urology residency in the Scott Department of Urology.
Dr.
Chuang completed a fellowship in Male Reproductive Medicine and Surgery
at Baylor under the direction of Dr. Larry Lipshultz. During this time,
he was involved with numerous research projects on male infertility and published articles and chapters on various aspects of male
infertility and treatment.
Dr. Chuang is a member of the American Urological Association and the American Society for Reproductive Medicine. Joining
Urology Associates of North Texas in 2004, Dr. Chuang also oversees the
andrology lab affiliated with the practice. Currently, he resides in
Dallas.
Featured Specialist for Kidney Cancer Treatment in Arlington, TX
Weber W. Chuang, MD
Call Now: (817) 264-7808
811 W. Interstate 20 Suite G-22Arlington, TX 76017
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