Chemotherapy for Kidney Cancer

by Debra Wood, RN

Chemotherapy drugs are delivered through the bloodstream to travel through the body and destroy cancer cells. At this time, traditional chemotherapy protocols are not effective in killing kidney cancer cells. However, there is some benefit to a small percentage of those with kidney cancer. Chemotherapy may be used if other treatment methods fail or to relieve symptoms of metastatic cancer and prolong life.

References:

General information about renal cancer. National Cancer Institute website. Available at: https://www.cancer.gov/types/kidney/patient/kidney-treatment-pdq. Updated November 8, 2019. Accessed February 28, 2020.

Kidney cancer. National Kidney Foundation website. Available at: https://www.kidney.org/atoz/content/what-kidney-cancer. Accessed February 28, 2020.

Kidney cancer (adult)—renal cell carcinoma. American Cancer Society website. Available at:
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Accessed February 28, 2020.

Renal cell carcinoma. EBSCO DynaMed Plus website. Available at: http://www.dynamed.... Updated October 10, 2018. Accessed February 28, 2020.

Last reviewed December 2019 by EBSCO Medical Review Board Mohei Abouzied, MD, FACP
Last Updated: 2/28/2020

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