Kidney Cancer Ablation vs. Surgery: Pros and Cons
Kidney cancer happens when cells in the kidney begin to grow and divide out of control. It ranks in the top 10 types of cancer that affect both men and women in the United States, according to the
Ablation and surgery are two treatment options for kidney cancer. Ablation destroys tumor cells, while surgery aims to remove the tumor from the body.
We will discuss the differences between these two types of treatment. We will cover what each procedure is like and answer some questions.
| Pros | Cons | |
|---|---|---|
| Kidney ablation |
• can treat tumors in situations where surgery may be risky due to underlying medical conditions • can be repeated if needed • preserves function of the affected kidney • lower chance of risks like There was bleeding. • outpatient procedure • faster recovery time |
• only recommended for smaller tumors • tumors can recur • may have lower overall survival compared with surgery |
| Kidney surgery |
• can potentially cure a cancer • can be used for larger tumors • provides more complete pathology results, since the removed tumor is available for review • partial nephrectomy preserves some kidney function • minimally invasive surgical options are available |
• requires hospital admission • longer recovery time • more risks • advanced cancers may still progress |
“Surgery is the most effective treatment for cancer of the kidneys. When surgery isn’t an option, the use of renal mass ablation may be used. This is a tool for targeting the cancer cells.”
“Let’s look at each of the treatment options in more detail.”
Renal mass ablation
Renal mass ablation involves destroying the tumor cells within the kidney. This is typically done using either extreme cold or high heat:
- Cryotherapy. This destroys tumor cells using extreme cold.
- Radiofrequency ablation (RFA). This uses heat from high energy radio waves to destroy tumor cells.
Ablation is typically used for small kidney tumors. The ACS says these tumors are no larger than
If you have underlying health problems that prevent you from having surgery, your doctor may recommend this treatment.
Kidney surgery
Kidney surgery involves surgically removing the tumor from the body. Two types of surgery are used for kidney cancer:
- Partial nephrectomy. This removes the tumor and some of the surrounding kidney tissue.
- Radical nephrectomy. This removes the entire kidney and often the adrenal gland, nearby lymph nodes, and surrounding fatty tissue.
Partial nephrectomy is a procedure that can be used to remove small tumors and larger tumors. Most of the function in the affected kidneys will be retained in this type of surgery.
A radical nephrectomy can be done by most people. This type of surgery may be recommended.
- The tumor is large.
- There are tumors in the affected organ.
- The location of the tumor makes it impossible to remove it with a partial nephrectomy.
- The cancer has spread beyond the body.
While surgeons can perform both partial and radical nephrectomy as open surgeries, they now often do them using minimally invasive procedures. These include laparoscopic and robot-assisted laparoscopic procedures.
Before the procedure
Before a kidneys removal, you will get instructions from your doctor on when to stop drinking and eating. Your doctor will review your medications, supplements, and herbal remedies to make sure they are still effective before you go for the procedure.
During the procedure
The National Health Service (NHS) says an ablation procedure is short, typically taking 60 to 90 minutes. People undergoing renal mass ablations typically go home on the same day. You’ll only need to stay overnight in the hospital if you experience
There are two ways in which to do theKidney Abduction can be done.
- Cryotherapy. For this procedure, a needle is passed into the tumor either through the skin or by using laparoscopy. Extremely cold gas is passed into the needle, which destroys the tumor cells.
- RFA. In RFA, a thin probe is placed into the tumor through the skin. An electric current is then passed through the tip of the probe, generating high heat. This heat then destroys the tumor cells.
In both procedures, imaging helps guide the placement of the needle or probe. This may include ultrasound, CT scan, or MRI scan.
When cryotherapy or RFA happen through the skin, they’re known as percutaneous procedures. For percutaneous procedures, local anesthesia will be used, which numbs the area where the needle or probe is inserted.
After your procedure
The NHS says you may be able to return to your daily activities within a few days of your ablation procedure. Your doctor will let you know if there are any specific things that you should avoid doing as you recover.
There are very few serious risks of the procedure. Potential risks may include things like:
- A temporary flu-like illness is called post-ablation syndrome.
- There was bleeding.
- It is an infectious disease
- Damage to the kidneys, ureters, or other nearby tissues.
Outlook for kidney ablation
A
A
A 2019 study found that overall survival and cancer-specific survival were better with partial nephrectomy when tumors were between 2 and 4 centimeters. However, for tumors smaller than 2 centimeters, cancer-specific survival was similar between ablation and partial nephrectomy.
Before the procedure
Your surgeon will give you instructions regarding taking medication, taking herbal remedies, and taking fasts before your surgery. Follow their instructions with care.
During the procedure
A nephrectomy typically takes between 2 and 3 hours, according to the NHS. You’ll also need to stay in the hospital for several days before you’re able to go home. If you experience
An open procedure is when the surgeon makes a large incision during a surgery. They could make a few smaller incisions, which is a minimally-invasive procedure. They will remove either part of the kidneys or the whole.
General anesthesia is used for the surgery of the kidneys. After the procedure is over, you will wake up in a recovery room.
After your procedure
A 2018 study estimates it can take
There are more risks with nephrectomy than with Abduction. There are some risks of having a kidneys.
- reactions to anesthesia
- excess There was bleeding.
- It is an infectious disease
- serious blood clots
- During a partial nephrectomy, urine leaks into the abdomen.
- There is damage to nearby organs and tissues.
- The kidneys fail.
Outlook for kidney surgery
A
There were 104 people who died from cancer. There were factors that helped with a better outlook.
- Being in good health.
- having no symptoms at presentation
- The cancer had not spread to the stum.
A
When making decisions on a treatment plan, it is a good idea to have a discussion with your doctor. It is important to review your treatment options and ask any questions that come to mind during this time.
“Some questions you may want to ask are when you’re choosing between surgery and a procedure called a ablation.”
- Which treatment would you recommend based on my situation? Why?
- Is cryotherapy or RFA the right choice for a procedure? Why?
- Would you use an open procedure or a minimally-invasive procedure for surgery? Why?
- What would recovery be like after surgery?
- What are the risks associated with surgery? Is one more likely to have serious risks?
- Will I need more treatment after surgery or a procedure? What will it involve?
- Is my cancer more likely to come back after one type of treatment?
- Is my insurance covering these treatments?
“Your doctor and care team are there to help you. Don’t hesitate to raise any additional questions or concerns that may come to mind.”
We will answer some more questions about surgery for cancer.
Which procedure is done more often?
Surgery is done more often. A
- 80% of them received a surgery.
- 12 percent had an operation.
- 8 percent were managed with active vigilance.
How soon should I do either procedure?
If your cancer is large, growing quickly, or has already spread to other tissues, your doctor will recommend that you start treatment as soon as possible. Depending on your situation, they will recommend a treatment.
Sometimes, your doctor will recommend monitoring a tumor with imaging
This is called active monitoring. It is often recommended for people with tumors that are small or slow growing, or for people with poor health who may not respond well to surgery.
Will I need to have surgery if the ablation doesn’t work?
Your doctor may recommend surgery if your cancer comes back after the procedure. It is possible that they will use a second ablation to treat the cancer.
Will I need additional treatments?
Additional treatment after surgery is called adjuvant therapy. Adjuvant therapy is not generally used after a partial nephrectomy or ablation, since these masses are small and have a low risk of coming back and spreading. Adjuvant therapy is usually reserved for people with large or aggressive masses to prevent possible recurrence or spread.
If you are at risk of cancer returning after surgery, you may be able to receive additional treatment with Targeted therapy. drugs or immunotherapy drugs. The drugs are meant to help prevent the cancer from spreading.
What other treatment options are there for kidney cancer?
In addition to ablation and surgery, there are also other treatment options for kidney cancer, such as:
- active monitoring
- Targeted therapy.
- immunotherapy
- Radiation therapy is done.
- chemotherapy, for rarer kidney cancers
The type of cancer, stage, and age are all factors that your doctor will consider when making a treatment recommendation.
The most preferred option for treating cancer is surgery. It can cure the cancer. The removal of a part of a kidneys is a procedure for cancer of the kidneys.
People with smaller tumors who do not want to have surgery may be able to be Ablated. It involves destroying tumors with high heat or cold.
When you are deciding on how to approach your treatment, it is important to have an open conversation with your doctor. They can show you the benefits and risks of each treatment.
