Choosing the Treatment That's Right for You
Once a diagnosis of renal cell cancer has been confirmed and the disease's stage determined, physician and patient decide on a treatment plan. Factors that are considered include the patient's age and overall health and the extent to which the cancer has spread. For example, a patient with one healthy, functioning kidney and one afflicted with an aggressive Stage 2 RCC is a more likely candidate for radical surgery than a patient with only one kidney and a less aggressive Stage 1 cancer.

It is important that the patient and physician make an informed decision together after considering all possible options, side effects, and outcomes. A confident, positive outlook can help the patient cope with the physical demands of surgery and/or therapy and can improve the chances for recovery.

Treatment Options

• Surgery (to remove cancerous tissue) - Laparoscopic Surgery 
• Chemotherapy (using drugs to destroy cancer cells)
• Radiation therapy (using high-energy radiation to destroy cancer cells and shrink tumors)
• Hormone therapy (using hormones to prevent cancer cell growth)
• Biological or Immunotherapy (using compounds produced by the body's immune system, or laboratory-produced copies of them, to destroy cancer cells)