Childhood tumor

Nephroblastoma is almost always treated with more than one method - usually surgery and chemotherapy. Sometimes chemotherapy or radiation therapy may be used before surgery to make the tumor smaller. If there are still cancer cells after surgery, radiation therapy can be used.

One or more of the following methods can be used to treat cancer or help your child feel better.

surgical operation

The main purpose of surgical treatment for nephroblastoma is to remove as many tumors as possible. The kidneys, ureters, and adrenal glands will also be removed. This type of surgery is called nephrectomy.

During the surgery, lymph nodes near the kidneys may be removed and cancer cells examined. Nearby organs and another kidney will be examined and may undergo biopsy.

Nephrectomy has two methods for treating nephroblastoma:

Radical nephrectomy

The most common surgery for treating nephroblastoma. The entire kidney and surrounding tissues were removed.

Partial nephrectomy (or surgery to preserve the kidney)

When nephroblastoma is located in both kidneys, this surgery can preserve as much healthy tissue as possible. Cancer cells and some surrounding healthy tissues have been removed.

Sometimes, both kidneys may need to be completely removed. If this is the case, your child will need dialysis (machines are used to filter blood) several times a week. Kidney transplantation may be a future option.

chemotherapy

Most children who receive treatment for nephroblastoma will receive chemotherapy. If the tumor is large or difficult to reach, or if both kidneys have tumors, chemotherapy can be administered before surgery to shrink the tumor and make it easier to remove.

Children's Cancer Hospital provides the most advanced chemotherapy drugs.

Radiation therapy

Radiation therapy (also known as radiotherapy) uses high-energy radiation to destroy cancer cells. New radiation therapy technologies and extraordinary skills enable doctors at children's cancer hospitals to more accurately target tumors and provide the maximum amount of radiation with minimal damage to healthy cells.

Children's Cancer Hospital provides state-of-the-art radiation therapy, including:

3D conformal radiotherapy: Provide several beams of radiation based on the exact shape of the tumor.

Intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT): Treatment based on the specific morphology of the tumor