What Is Targeted Cancer Therapy?
The National Cancer Institute defines targeted therapy as “a type of cancer treatment that targets proteins that control how cancer cells grow, divide, and spread.”
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When a patient is diagnosed with kidney cancer, his or her physician will classify the “stage” of the disease to develop the most effective treatment plan possible. At Regional Cancer Care Associates facilities in Connecticut, Maryland, and New Jersey, we diagnose and treat patients at all kidney cancer stages. By pinpointing the precise progression of a patient’s cancer, our care providers become better equipped to help patients maintain an optimal quality of living.
One of the most common tools physicians use to classify cancers is the TNM system, which stands for tumor, lymph node, and metastasis. The TNM system breaks down as follows:
Tumor (T)
At this stage, oncologists examine a tumor’s size and location. Using the letter T and numbers 0 through 4, they can succinctly describe both of these characteristics. Here’s how it works:
Node (N)
At this stage of kidney cancer classification, an oncologist examines whether the disease has spread to one or more of a patient’s lymph nodes, as denoted by:
Metastasis (M)
For the third and final stage of kidney cancer classification, an oncologist will determine whether a patient’s kidney cancer has spread to other areas of the body. To do so, the oncologist will select from one of the following identifiers:
After completing the necessary testing under the TNM classification system, a patient’s kidney cancer will be assigned one of the following labels:
Stage I: The tumor is 7 cm or smaller and is localized to the kidney.
Stage II: The tumor is larger than 7 cm and is localized to the kidney.
Stage III: The tumor is any size, is localized to the kidney, has spread to the regional lymph nodes, and has not metastasized; or it has grown into major veins or tissues, may or may not have spread to the regional lymph nodes, and has not spread to other parts of the body.
Stage IV: The tumor has spread beyond Gerota’s fascia, possibly to the lymph nodes, but not to other parts of the body; or it has spread to another organ.
Recurrent: Kidney cancer has returned after being treated.
By discovering the stage to which a patient’s kidney cancer has progressed, providers can develop an appropriate treatment plan and better predict that patient’s prognosis. If you have or suspect you may have kidney cancer, one of the experienced physicians at Regional Cancer Care Associates can evaluate your symptoms, provide an accurate diagnosis, and offer robust treatment. To schedule an appointment, contact us today.
The National Cancer Institute defines targeted therapy as “a type of cancer treatment that targets proteins that control how cancer cells grow, divide, and spread.”
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