If a cancer has spread to other parts of the body this is called secondary cancer. Usually when there are secondary cancers it isn't helpful to operate to remove the original (primary) cancer. But sometimes with kidney cancer the situation is different.
There are two reasons why removing the kidney can sometimes be helpful. It may:
- relieve symptoms caused by cancer in the kidney
- help to slow down the growth of cancer cells outside the kidney.
An operation to remove the cancer in the kidney may help to reduce pain or bleeding if the cancer is causing either of these problems.
Sometimes the cancer releases chemicals that cause other symptoms in the body including; feeling sick, high blood pressure, feeling weak or high temperatures (fevers). Removing the kidney can help to treat these symptoms.
When combined with interferon treatment, having the kidney removed may also help to slow down the cancer elsewhere in the body. We're not sure why this may be. Some doctors think that the cancer in the kidney may release chemicals that stimulate the secondary cancers to grow. These chemicals may also interfere with the body's defence against cancer. Taking away the kidney stops these chemicals from being made.
Two recent clinical trials found that people who had their kidney removed before treatment with interferon generally lived for longer than people who had interferon without surgery. However, having this operation is not right for everyone.
The surgeon will take into account a number of factors when deciding if an operation is right for someone. These include:
- whether the person is fit enough to cope with the operation
- what parts of the kidney and surrounding tissues are affected by the cancer
- whether the primary cancer is causing troublesome symptoms
- the amount of secondary cancer the person has.
Your father's doctor will be able to tell him more about why he feels an operation is best in his situation.
Reference
- Flanigan RC et al. 2004. Cytoreductive nephrectomy in patients with metastatic renal cancer: a combined analysis. Journal of Urology. 171(3):1071-1076.