Kidney cancer treatment depends on your overall health, the type of kidney cancer, how much kidney cancer has spread, and which treatment is preferred. The following are seven different treatment options for kidney cancer.

Partial nephrectomy
Partial nephrectomy is also known as nephron-sparing or kidney-sparing surgery. In this, a part of your kidney that is affected by cancer is removed along with a healthy tissue that is present near the affected area. Partial nephrectomy is generally used when you have only one kidney or when the cancer is located in only a small part of your kidney. This surgery is preferred to complete nephrectomy.

Nephrectomy
Nephrectomy is one of the different treatment options for kidney cancer. Also known as radical nephrectomy, the procedure involves the removal of your entire kidney that is affected by cancer. It also involves removing the tissues present nearby like the adrenal gland and lymph nodes. The surgeon can perform a nephrectomy by using an open-nephrectomy procedure or a laparoscopic nephrectomy.

Radiofrequency ablation
Radiofrequency ablation is a non-surgical treatment option. This procedure involves inserting radio waves into your skin so that it reaches the kidney tumor. Your doctor can use ultrasound or other imaging methods to see that the probe reaches the kidney tumor. Through the needle, your doctor runs an electrical current so that the heat travels to the cancer cells. This leads to the cells heating up first and then burning.

Cryoablation
One of the non-surgical different treatment options for kidney cancer is cryoablation. In this, your doctor inserts a hollow needle in your skin. The aim is to use image guidance or ultrasound so that the needle reaches the kidney tumor. Once this is done, the cancer cells are frozen with the help of the cold gas that is present in the needle. This is generally used when surgery is not an option because you have another condition that makes surgery highly risky.

Immunotherapy
Immunotherapy is one of the different treatment options for kidney cancer when it is recurrent or advanced. Immunotherapy is a process through which your immune system is made stronger so that it can fight the cancer cells. There are many ways this can be done. Your immune system can be stimulated so that it can attack the cancer cells. Else, you might need to take medicines that help improve how well your immune system works.

Targeted therapy
Targeted therapy is used when you have advanced kidney cancer or when it is recurrent. Your doctor will first test your kidney cancer cells to see what their weaknesses and vulnerabilities are. Once he does that, he will have an idea about which targeted medications can help. Targeted therapy ensures that your cancer cells are destroyed or killed by studying the cells’ vulnerabilities. Different targeted prescription treatments might be suitable for different people.

Radiation therapy
Radiation therapy is one of the different treatment options for kidney cancer. In this beams from protons and X-rays are used to kill the cancer cells present in your kidney. Sometimes, when kidney cancer has spread to your brain or your bones, then radiation therapy can be used for keeping symptoms in control. Radiation therapy can also be used to control symptoms when kidney cancer has spread.