Kidney cancer treatment

Kidney cancer treatment

If you are diagnosed with kidney cancer, your care team will evaluate several factors before recommending a treatment. They’ll consider your age, overall health, and the stage of your cancer.

If the cancer is only in your kidney, surgery is often the first and possibly only treatment needed. In some cases, your care team might recommend a watchful waiting approach (active surveillance). This means closely watching the cancer without treatment unless symptoms change or appear. If the cancer has spread beyond your kidney, surgery might not be an option, and your care team may explore other treatments.

Types of kidney cancer treatments

While surgery is often the preferred treatment for kidney cancer, it may not be an option for everyone, such as people who are too unwell or those who prefer to avoid surgery.

We offer a range of kidney cancer treatments tailored to your unique needs. Our expert team takes an individualized approach, using the latest advancements and proven methods to give you the best possible outcome. Whether your treatment involves surgery, targeted therapy, or a combination of options, we’re committed to providing care that fits your health, goals, and lifestyle.

Treating kidney cancer: Why choose Penn Medicine?

Our comprehensive kidney cancer program provides people with more treatment options for all types of kidney cancer, including renal cell carcinoma (RCC). Working together, our team of world-class kidney cancer specialists uses the latest research and years of experience to create effective treatment plans.

We also offer:

  • Robotic-assisted procedures: Our surgeons are skilled in robotic-assisted nephrectomies, which lead to less blood loss, more precise stitching (suturing), and better outcomes. With this experience, we often perform complex partial nephrectomies that other centers can’t do. 
  • Comprehensive RCC treatment options: We offer the latest advances in every area of renal cancer treatment, including renal cell carcinoma immunotherapies and targeted therapies. We also offer the latest radiation options, including proton therapy.  
  • Expertise in metastatic renal cell carcinoma: Our oncologists have helped develop some of the standard treatments widely used for metastatic renal cell carcinoma (kidney cancer that has spread to other areas of the body). They continue to research ways to help people with metastatic disease live longer. 
  • Kidney cancer clinical trials: At Penn Medicine, you have access to clinical trials for kidney cancer. Some of these trials have led to better kidney cancer treatments.  
  • Pathologists who specialize in urologic cancers: Identifying the right molecular targets is a key part of targeted therapy. It requires working closely with pathologists to carefully analyze the cancer cells. Our expert pathologists can uncover key details that others may miss. 
  • Urgent care for treatment side effects: Sometimes cancer treatments cause unpleasant or serious side effects. We offer same-day appointments in our Oncology Evaluation Center (OEC) dedicated to patients who are actively getting treatment to help manage cancer treatment side effects. This urgent care helps keep you safe and on track with your treatment plan. 
  • Compassionate, supportive care: We consider your needs from head to toe. We offer services to help you and your family cope with the physical and emotional stress of living with cancer.
National Cancer Institute Designated Comprehensive Cancer Center badge on top of shot of hospital

Rated “exceptional” by The National Cancer Institute

Penn Medicine’s Abramson Cancer Center is a world leader in cancer research, patient care, and education. Our status as a national leader in cancer care is reflected in our continuous designation as a Comprehensive Cancer Center by the National Cancer Institute (NCI) since 1973, one of 7 such centers in the United States. The ACC is also a member of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network, one of a select few cancer centers in the U.S., that are working to promote equitable access to high-quality, advanced cancer care.

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