Medications and extra fluids can help protect your kidneys from damage during chemotherapy.
Each year, more than one million people in the United States receive chemotherapy or radiation therapy treatments to treat their cancer. However, for many people, the kidneys are responsible for removing these chemotherapy drugs from the body, which can lead to kidney damage.
To help protect your kidneys during chemotherapy treatment, your doctor will monitor the strength of your kidneys.
You may be prescribed protective medications or given extra fluids intravenously (IV) to help remove chemotherapy waste products from your body.
In some cases, chemotherapy treatments may need to be provisionally adjusted or stopped to recover kidney function.
How do you save your kidneys healthy during cancer treatment?
Earlier chemotherapy, your doctors may achieve various tests to assess the health of your kidneys.
During chemotherapy, doctors may take a variety of steps to help protect your kidneys, including:
- checking fluid and electrolyte levels to check kidney function;
- giving extra fluids to help flush out waste products from chemotherapy drugs;
- prescribing medications, such as amifostine, to help protect the kidneys;
- treating any other existing health conditions;
- reducing the chemotherapy dose or recommending dialysis if the kidneys are failing.
Can chemo cause kidney failure?
Nephrotoxicity is the scientific term that describes the impairment of kidney function caused by toxic chemicals and drugs. Substances that have the potential to cause nephrotoxicity are called nephrotoxins. Some of the most common nephrotoxic agents in chemotherapy treatments are:
- methotrexate
- semustine
- streptozocin
- mithramycin
- cisplatin
Nephrotoxic agents in chemotherapy treatments can cause cysts, swelling, and damage to the internal structures of the kidneys. This can lead to renal dysfunction, chronic kidney disease, and even kidney failure.
Can the kidneys recover from chemotherapy-related damage?
In many cases, the kidneys can recover from chemotherapy-related damage. Once chemotherapy is completed—when the kidneys stop filtering toxic chemicals—their health may improve. Some factors that influence the ability of the kidneys to recover from chemotherapy-related damage include:
- the presence or absence of kidney problems before chemotherapy treatment;
- the extent or duration of chemotherapy treatments;
- the specific drugs used in said treatments;
- The simultaneous administration of other treatments, such as radiation therapy.
Monitoring kidney function can help determine when it is necessary to reduce chemotherapy drug levels or temporarily stop treatment to stop long-term kidney damage.
Is kidney failure mutual in cancer patients on chemo?
A 2019 study, which tracked 163,071 people receiving chemotherapy or targeted drug therapy, found acute kidney injury (AKI) in 9.3% of them.
According to the study, the likelihood of developing kidney damage doubled in the first 90 days after cancer treatment. The types of cancer associated with the highest rates of AKI were myeloma, bladder cancer, and leukaemia.
Advanced-stage cancer, pre-existing kidney conditions, and diabetes were amongst the factors associated with higher rates of kidney damage.
Another study examined the prevalence of kidney problems in children with cancer. It noted that 56% of children experienced kidney and urinary tract problems during treatment and shortly after it was completed.
Acute kidney disease is not common in long-term survivors, but it is more common than in their younger siblings.
What is the treatment for kidney disease?
If chemotherapy is damaging your kidneys, your doctor may recommend lifestyle changes, medications, reducing your chemotherapy dose, or even kidney dialysis.
Lifestyle strategies—such as avoiding alcohol and smoking—can help with kidney health. In adding, a diet low in sodium, potassium, and phosphorus can help keep your kidneys as healthy as possible. You can read more about this here.
Your doctor may also mention regular physical activity and weight loss if you are heavy or obese.
There is no exact medication that can cure kidney disease; however, diuretics can help remove excess fluid and waste products from the body.
In some cases, doctors may suggest dropping the amount of chemotherapy given.
If your kidneys are not able to filter and remove waste products from your body well enough, dialysis may be needed.
Conclusion
Your kidneys can become damaged as they process and remove chemotherapy drugs from your body.
To help prevent severe kidney damage, your doctors may increase the amount of fluid in your infusions during chemotherapy treatments and suggest protective medications.
You will be tested to check the health of your kidneys before starting chemotherapy, and you will continue to be monitored throughout the treatment process.
If your kidneys are no longer able to filter waste products from your body well enough, you may need to change your chemotherapy treatment or undergo dialysis.