At some point or another, many individuals will find themselves asking, “Do kidney cancer medicines make the person dehydrated?” So far, this question hasn’t been definitively answered by medical practitioners due to the complexity of diagnosing and treating kidney cancer, as well as the individual reactions of patients to the wide variety of drugs used to combat the disease.
3 types of kidney cancer
Kidney cancer is a broad class of cancers that can be further divided into three distinct groups: clear-cell carcinoma, papillary carcinoma, and chromophobe carcinoma. There are a few common treatment methods that are applied to all three cancer types. The main course of treatment for kidney cancer involves surgery and immunotherapy, which can be combined with radiation or chemotherapy. Depending on the individual, there are also different treatments that may be considered, such as targeted therapy drugs and gene-targeted antibodies.
Effects in the form of dehydration from these drugs
It is difficult to ascertain if kidney cancer medicines make any person dehydrated due to the multitude of drugs that can be used in the treatment of kidney cancer. Many of these drugs have dehydration as a common side effect, but the magnitude of the symptom and its impact on the patient vary from person to person. In general, those who must undergo kidney cancer treatment should ensure to drink more fluids in order to avoid dehydration. Most notably, drug categories such as immunotherapy and targeted therapy are likely to cause more dehydration than chemotherapy or radiation therapy.
Side effects from kidney cancer drugs
Immunotherapy drugs, such as interferon and interleukin, are used to boost the body’s own immune system and attack cancer cells. This can cause side effects such as a lower-than-normal red blood cell count, fatigue, fever, and even dehydration. These side effects often occur during the first few weeks of treatment and then taper off as the person’s body acclimates to the drug.
Targetted therapy kidney cancer drugs
Targeted therapy drugs are designed to target and destroy cancer cells with fewer side effects than traditional chemotherapy and radiation therapy. Despite this, some commonly used targeted therapies, such as sunitinib and sorafenib, have side effects of low blood pressure, sweating, and dehydration. Because of this, it is important for patients who are receiving targeted therapies to take extra precautions when it comes to staying hydrated.
specific treatment for kidney cancer
Sunitinib is an oral medication used to treat a wide range of cancers, primarily those of the gastrointestinal tract, renal cancer, and other soft tissue sarcomas. Sunitinib belongs to a class of drugs called tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) which work by inhibiting the activity of tyrosine kinase enzymes that are essential for the growth and proliferation of cancer cells. Sunitinib 50mg also exhibits anti-angiogenic properties and restricts the growth of new blood vessels that are necessary for tumor growth and spread.
Approval as a certified drug
Sunitinib was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2006 to treat gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST), a rare type of cancer that occurs in the cells of the digestive tract. Sunitinib inhibits a tyrosine kinase enzyme called KIT which is involved in the progression of GIST. In 2020, the FDA also approved Sunitinib for the treatment of certain advanced pancreatic, thyroid, and some kidney cancers.
Dose of administration
Sunitinib is given orally and is generally taken once daily in the same dose and at the same time every day, with a full glass of water. The recommended dose and length of treatment depend on a variety of factors, including the type and severity of the tumor, and the patient’s response to treatment. Generally, treatment may last up to 12 weeks and may be repeated depending on the individual case.
Side effects from sunitinib
Common side effects associated with the use of Sunitinib include anemia, fatigue, headaches, nausea, abdominal pain, diarrhea, and rash. In addition, Sunitinib may also cause serious side effects including inflammation of the liver, hypertension, bleeding and clotting issues, and a potential risk of secondary cancers. Patients should inform their doctor right away if they experience any of these side effects.
Revolutionized mode of treatment
Sunitinib has revolutionized treatment for patients with a variety of advanced cancers and has a number of benefits over conventional therapies. In particular, it is generally well-tolerated and provides sustained control of cancer progression over an extended period of time. While Sunitinib is generally considered safe, it is important that patients talk to their doctor about the potential risks and side effects associated with this medication before starting treatment.
In conclusion,
It is difficult to definitively state whether kidney cancer medicines make the person dehydrated as the specific drugs used and the severity of their side effects vary drastically from person to person. As such, it is recommended to all patients undergoing kidney cancer treatments that they ensure to consume an adequate amount of fluids to prevent dehydration and maintain proper hydration levels.
