Surgery is the main treatment for localized (confined to the kidney) kidney cancer. It is also an important option for other stages of kidney cancer. Most people with kidney cancer begin treatment by having surgery to remove their cancer.
You may have chemotherapy either before or after surgery. If kidney cancer has spread beyond your kidney, you might have chemotherapy first. This can help treat cancer wherever it is. After chemotherapy, your care team may recommend surgery if:
- The tumors responded well the medicine.
- They can be surgically removed.
People with advanced kidney cancer might not have surgery. That’s because chances are low that surgery will cure the disease. But sometimes having surgery to remove tumors may help a person live longer or manage symptoms.
Kidney Cancer Care Tailored to You
You and your family are our top priority. At Fred Hutch Cancer Center, we offer comprehensive and compassionate care — personalized to you. You'll have access to the latest treatment options, clinical trials and supportive care services.
Types of Surgery to Treat Kidney Cancer
There is a range of surgeries for kidney cancer. At Fred Hutch Cancer Center, our experienced surgeons offer all types of kidney cancer surgeries.
Your exact procedure will depend on many factors. Your care team will take into account things like the site, size and stage of your cancer and your overall health and preferences. You and your care team will talk about your options and decide together what is best for you.
Whenever possible, we use laparoscopic or robotic surgery techniques, making small keyhole incisions and using telescopic instruments.
Partial Nephrectomy
Partial nephrectomy is surgery to remove only the part of your kidney that contains the cancer and a small margin (portion) of healthy tissue around it.
Radical Nephrectomy
Radical nephrectomy is surgery to remove the entire kidney, the adrenal gland, surrounding tissue and usually nearby lymph nodes.
Simple Nephrectomy
Simple nephrectomy is surgery to remove the kidney only.
Reginal Lymphadenectomy
This is surgery to remove lymph nodes near the tumor to see if they contain cancer.
Ablation
Ablation uses extreme cold (cryoablation) or heat (radiofrequency ablation) to kill tumor cells, either by putting a needle through a small puncture in your skin (percutaneously) or through a very small laparoscopic incision.
Why Choose Fred Hutch for Kidney Cancer Surgery
As a patient at Fred Hutch, you’ll have surgery done by a UW Medicine surgical oncologist. Your surgeon will be specially trained and board certified in urologic surgery. They know the most advanced surgical options for treating your disease. Your surgeon will design a personalized treatment plan to fit your needs. The Fred Hutch/UW urology team holds an SRC Accreditation for Robotic Surgery, signifying that the hospital, surgeons and programs meet strict, internationally recognized standards for patient safety and high-quality outcomes.
Whenever possible, our surgeons use minimally invasive techniques. Knowing when to do an open or minimally invasive procedure is important. This is part of the expertise offered by our surgeons. They are among the country’s leading experts in both techniques. To help you recover, Fred Hutch care teams follow evidence-based guidelines (“early-recovery after surgery” protocols) and offer supportive care services with specialists who understand cancer treatment and survivorship.