Kidney Cancer: Diagnosis & Advanced Treatments

When examining kidney cancer, Positron Emission Tomography/Computed Tomography (PET/CT) scans are not typically the first diagnostic tool used. Instead, doctors rely on other imaging methods to initially detect the disease.

“PET/CT can sometimes be used to detect metastasis or assess spread, but CT or MRI are generally better at identifying the kidney tumor itself,” explained Dr. Tanujaa Rajasekaran, a consultant senior oncologist at Parkway Cancer Centre.

Treatment for kidney cancer varies depending on the stage and type of the disease. Among the most advanced options available are:

• Surgery
• Partial nephrectomy (removal of only the tumor)
• Radical nephrectomy (removal of the kidney)
• Targeted therapy
• Medications that inhibit tumor growth pathways
• Immunotherapy

Immunotherapy options include immune checkpoint inhibitors, such as pembrolizumab, which help the body’s immune system attack cancer cells.

Minimally invasive or robotic surgery

Robot-assisted procedures can allow for faster recovery times and smaller scars. This approach is becoming increasingly common in cancer treatment, offering patients a less invasive path to recovery.