If you’re one of the more than 81,000 people diagnosed with kidney cancer this year, you want to take advantage of the most advanced treatments to eliminate any malignant tumors.
Dr. W. Cooper Buschemeyer here at Buschemeyer Urology in Conroe, Willis, and The Woodlands, Texas, often recommends cryotherapy for patients with kidney cancer. It’s one of the most promising and effective treatment techniques as it destroys cancer cells but leaves healthy tissue intact.
Cryotherapy is a minimally invasive procedure with fewer side effects than many other treatments. Read on to learn more about how it works to effectively treat your kidney cancer.
Cryotherapy uses extreme cold to destroy abnormal tissues, including tumors. Cryotherapy for kidney cancer involves the insertion of a thin probe through the skin and into the kidney tumor. The probe delivers liquid nitrogen or argon gas, freezing the cancerous cells and causing them to die.
Cryotherapy’s effectiveness is primarily because of its precision. Dr. Buschemeyer uses imaging techniques like ultrasound, CT scans, or MRI to guide the probe to the exact location of your tumor. The freezing process is then applied directly to the cancerous cells, minimizing damage to the surrounding healthy tissue.
The probe creates an ice ball around the tumor. The rapid freezing causes ice crystals to form inside the cancer cells, disrupting their structure and function. Then, the cells thaw, further damaging them through osmotic shock. Dr. Buschemeyer repeats this freeze-thaw cycle to completely destroy the tumor cells.
The extremely cold temperatures lead to the formation of ice crystals both inside and outside the cancer cells. The ice formation inside the cell ruptures the cell membrane, leading to immediate cell death. Ice formation outside the cell causes dehydration and disrupts the cellular environment, contributing to cell death during the thawing phase.
Unlike traditional surgery, cryotherapy requires very small incisions, reducing recovery time and the risk of complications. The minimally invasive nature of cryotherapy means less pain post-procedure and minimal scarring.
Cryotherapy preserves the healthy kidney tissue by targeting only the tumor, which means you maintain your renal function. This is particularly beneficial if you have just one kidney or compromised kidney function.
Cryotherapy can also often be done on an outpatient basis, so you go home to recover the same day as your procedure. Cryotherapy may also be repeated if you have a recurrence of a tumor, making it an ongoing way to manage kidney cancer.
Cryotherapy is a promising treatment for kidney cancer, but it’s not right for every patient. When determining the appropriateness of cryotherapy, we consider factors such as the size, location, and number of tumors, as well as your overall health.
Cryotherapy is a promising treatment option for kidney tumors. It targets cancerous cells while leaving healthy tissue intact, effectively managing the disease and improving overall quality of life.
Get a thorough evaluation and explore your treatment options. Call today or use the online tool to schedule an appointment at Buschemeyer Urology.
