Kidney cancer treatment in Germany

Treatment for kidney cancer in Germany is an opportunity for many people to get a chance for a full recovery and return to normal life. In recent years, there has been an upward trend in the disease in Europe and the USA. According to statistics from the World Health Organization, more than 430,000 cases of kidney cancer are diagnosed annually, with deaths occurring in almost 180,000 people. Treatment of kidney cancer in Germany is recognized as one of the most successful in global oncology. In recent years, German specialists have developed many innovative treatment regimens in this area. Doctors competently combine classical and innovative treatment methods, thanks to which in Germany they record high results and a good survival prognosis. That is why patients from Eastern Europe, Central Asia, and Balkan countries choose kidney cancer treatment in Germany.

Germany can be considered the best place for the treatment of all cancer diseases:

1. Germany is a leader in medical investments, so clinics are equipped with the latest modifications of equipment. This allows for effective and safe treatment of kidney cancer in Germany.
2. Cancer centers in Germany are certified by the German Cancer Society (DKG). In total, about 1,500 centers are certified.
3. Specialists undergo strict examination – 93% of doctors are certified by national and international oncology societies, many participate in scientific research.
4. German surgeons specialize in organ-preserving operations that remove tumors and diseased tissue while preserving kidney function.
5. Oncologists use exclusively original drugs with proven effectiveness and studied effects on the body. They are manufactured specifically for the EU countries, so they are not available in other countries.
6. In Germany, a large number of clinical trials are conducted (over 4,600), in which new drugs and their combinations, adaptive immunotherapy are tested. Patients have the opportunity to be the first to receive innovative therapy.
7. Germany offers reasonable prices for kidney cancer treatment. At the same time, they provide a high level of medical care and transparency in the pricing system. Patients can learn in advance about the cost of treatment and possible additional expenses.
8. Treatment of kidney cancer in Germany includes strategies to preserve patients’ quality of life. They receive psychological support, advice on nutrition, physical activity and relapse prevention.

According to reviews from patients who were treated for kidney cancer in Germany, this is one of the best options for people with this diagnosis.

Kidney cancer occurs in the mucous membrane of the tubules or in other parts of the organ. About 90% of cases are kidney adenocarcinoma (renal cell carcinoma). Its danger lies in its rapid spread throughout the body through the lymphatic system and bloodstream. If not treated in a timely manner, metastases will quickly reach distant structures, which will worsen the survival prognosis.

Kidney cancer may not manifest itself for a long time until the tumor reaches a large size and blood appears in the urine. That is why this type of cancer is often detected already at stage 4. Symptoms that should alert you:

• pain and tightness in the lateral area;
• decreased appetite;
• fatigue;
• weight loss.

Scientists have not fully identified why kidney carcinoma occurs. Among the most likely causes, doctors name smoking, addiction to diuretics, abuse of meat products, age over 70 years, diabetes, and genetic predisposition.

To develop an effective treatment plan, German oncologists prescribe examinations using modern technologies. Diagnostics may include:

1. A blood chemistry test to detect markers that indicate cancer progression.
2. Diagnostics with imaging (ultrasound, CT, MRI), which gives an idea of the shape, location and size of the tumor.
3. X-ray of the chest and bones (with radioactive contrast), which helps identify metastases in the body.
4. Biopsy to examine cancerous tissue.
5. Genetic testing, which determines the possibility of a hereditary origin of the disease and identifies the risk of getting the disease for other family members.
6. PET-CT makes it possible to detect a tumor process at the initial stage, distant metastases in the body in late stages of cancer, and monitor therapy.

An innovative technology that significantly increases the effectiveness of therapy is genetic diagnosis of a tumor. The genetic laboratory CeGaT in Tübingen offers genetic profiling of cancer tissues. These tests help to create a personalized immunotherapy regimen, and also, when hereditary risks are identified, to take timely preventive measures for the patient’s loved ones. Consultation with the world’s leading geneticists is also available here.

Advanced equipment allows doctors to make a diagnosis with 100% accuracy, which is important for drawing up the optimal treatment plan for kidney cancer in Germany.

Oncologists in Germany offer patients comprehensive treatment for kidney cancer, which includes current methods of therapy with proven effectiveness.

The treatment regimen for kidney cancer in Germany is being developed by a group of different specialists.

Key technologies:

1. Surgical removal of the tumor. Doctors mainly perform minimally invasive interventions through several punctures, which guarantee less tissue trauma and rapid postoperative recovery. A Da Vinci robot or laparoscope is used. Depending on the degree of organ damage, the following is performed:

• partial nephrectomy – removal of the affected part of the kidney (for a tumor of 4-7 cm);
• total nephrectomy – complete removal of the kidney and adjacent tissues when the tumor size is over 7 cm.

2. Nano-knife – removal of a tumor using electric current during surgery. Allows you to effectively destroy the tumor without damaging healthy tissue. The procedure significantly improves and prolongs the patient’s life, in some cases it is possible to achieve complete remission.
3. Cryoablation – freezing of the cancerous lesion at temperatures down to -140 °C. This is one of the best methods for patients with early stage cancer.
4. Radiofrequency ablation – destruction of cancer cells with high-frequency current using an electrode placed in the tumor.
5. Arterial embolization. The technology is considered an alternative, gentle option for surgery. Doctors artificially block sections of arteries and capillaries that feed the tumor, as a result of which it resolves over time.
6. Targeted therapy. Its essence is to block the growth of malignant cells through the use of special biological drugs. This type of treatment is recommended for all stages of cancer, including advanced cases.
7. HIFU therapy – exposure to cancer lesions with high-frequency ultrasound. They are combined with magnetic resonance imaging, which makes it possible to extremely accurately direct waves to the tumor.

Oncologists in Germany prescribe radiation and chemotherapy mainly for multiple metastases in the last stages of the disease. German clinics are equipped with the latest generation of linear accelerators, which allow high-precision irradiation of cancer lesions without affecting healthy tissue. However, it is worth noting that these methods for the treatment of kidney cancer in Germany are not the main ones.

According to summary data from German clinics, renal function after surgery decreases by 26%, radiofrequency ablation – by 13%, cryotherapy – by 6%.

German medical centers are among the world leaders in the number of scientific research and developments in the field of oncology. Here they are the first to introduce new programs for the treatment of kidney cancer, including stage 4. They show their success and give a good prognosis for survival.

The Immuno-Oncology Center Cologne IOZK offers patients unique effective technologies for treating cancer using immunotherapy, which are not available in the patients’ home countries:

1. IOZK immunotherapy using the IO-VAC antitumor vaccine. The vaccine is made individually for each patient. It includes dendritic cells that carry information about cancer cell antigens. This allows the immune system to identify and destroy tumor cells in the body.
2. Virotherapy is the introduction of oncolytic viruses into the body, which infect and destroy only malignant cells. This stimulates the patient’s immune system to fight cancer. Virotherapy enhances the effectiveness of antitumor vaccines.
3. Checkpoint inhibitor treatment is the prescription of drugs that have specific molecular features to enhance the body’s immune response against cancer.

The West German Proton Therapy Center in Essen (WPE) is one of the few medical institutions that offers a gentle alternative to radiation therapy. It is especially indicated for multiple lesions and is well tolerated by patients.

In university centers in Germany, the immunology of kidney tumors is being studied in detail to develop fundamentally new treatment regimens that have no analogues in the world. One of the promising areas in immunotherapy for kidney cancer that does not respond to traditional treatment is allogeneic (donor) stem cell transplantation.

The price for kidney cancer treatment in Germany is based on the G-DRG (German Diagnosis Related Groups) system and is based on the tariffs of the Ministry of Health.

The price of kidney cancer treatment in Germany depends on various parameters:

• volume of diagnostic studies;
• stage and characteristics of the disease;
• selected methods of therapy and subsequent rehabilitation;
• pricing policy of a particular clinic.

Approximate prices for basic procedures:

• nephrectomy with the Da Vinci robot – from $17,800;
• PET-CT – from $2100;
• Nano knife – $12,000;
• laparoscopic kidney removal – from $21,000;
• immunotherapy (drugs) – from $60,000.

More detailed advice on prices for kidney cancer treatment in Germany will be provided by Experts Medical coordinating doctors.

In Germany, kidney cancer treatment is successfully carried out in more than 70 hospitals. Based on hospital data and patient reviews, Experts Medical coordinators identified the best medical centers:

1. Charite Clinic in Berlin. For nine years in a row, Charite has topped the ranking of the best German hospitals in Germany (according to Focus). The Oncology Center is included among the best specialized institutes in the country and is certified by the German Cancer Society. Patients can count on a comprehensive, individualized treatment program tailored to all the characteristics of the individual. All types of modern tumor surgery and immunotherapy are available here. Some technologies for diagnosing and treating cancer have no analogues in the world.
2. University Hospital Essen – from 2021 to 2023 holds the lead in the list of the Best Clinics according to Newsweek magazine. Specializes in surgical treatment of cancer using minimally invasive methods. Surgeons thoroughly perform robot-assisted tumor resection. Targeted, immune, proton therapies are available.
3. Clinic Nordwest in Frankfurt am Main. The center is accredited by the European Society of Oncology (ESMO). Only 22 hospitals in the world have this certificate. Nordwest is also the only clinic in Germany that operates a certified Focused Ultrasound Treatment Center. For over 26 years, clinical trials of new immunotherapy drugs have been conducted here, which are the first to be received by hospital patients.
4. University Hospital in Cologne. It is famous for the best oncologists in Germany who have developed modern methods of treating kidney cancer. Innovative targeted drugs and procedures that are being researched in the clinic become available to patients in the shortest possible time.
5. Helios Hospital Berlin-Buch specializes in oncology and oncosurgery, and has been included in the TOP hospitals in Germany every year since 2019. In 2020, 12 specialists from different departments were included in the list of the best German doctors – according to Focus magazine. The hospital is equipped with a laboratory for immunophenotyping, cytological and molecular genetic studies.

The Experts Medical website presents leading medical centers in Germany with patient reviews of treatment there. Full information about the features of kidney cancer treatment in specific clinics in Germany can be obtained from Experts Medical doctors.

Patients trust the experienced and reliable company Experts Medical to organize kidney cancer treatment in Germany. It cooperates with the best medical centers in the world. Coordinating doctors will provide free advice on all issues of kidney cancer treatment in Germany and help you select a leading specialist.

The company’s experts will prepare medical documents and send them to the clinic for examination by the doctor and drawing up a preliminary treatment regimen. If necessary, the patient will be given a preliminary online consultation. It is also possible to arrange a second medical opinion from leading oncologists, book flights and hotel rooms.

With the support of Experts Medical, treatment of kidney cancer in Germany for the patient will be carried out according to the highest international standards.