‘I Feel Strong’: Six Years After Battling Kidney Cancer, ‘General Hospital’ Star Cameron Mathison, 56, Says His Kidney Function Has Been Steadily Improving

 

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Kidney cancer affects tens of thousands of Americans each year, according to the National Cancer Institute. It can occur in both adults and children, and early symptoms are often subtle or nonexistent.

When they do appear, they may include blood in the urine, fatigue, weight loss, persistent fever, or pain on one side of the lower back. Surgery, like the procedure Mathison underwent, is the primary treatment for localized kidney tumors.

 

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Earlier this month, Mathison invited fans along as he completed his six‑year cancer check-up. In an Instagram video, he shared a photo from his CT scan and noted that the visit also included blood work and X-rays to confirm he remains in remission.

Mathison’s cancer journey began in 2019, when he was diagnosed with renal cell carcinoma, the most common type of kidney cancer. The experience, he says, reshaped his outlook on life.

“If you go through a cancer journey — where I didn’t know if I was going to die or not — you can’t go through something like that without it moving you,” he told Entertainment Tonight.

“My willingness and desire to help others has really increased my gratitude for enjoying life. I think it’s also influenced my decision to have more balance and not work nonstop,” Mathison said.

RELATED: New Hope for Kidney Cancer Patients: Immunotherapy Drug Reduces Risk of Recurrence by 32%; Read One Man’s Amazing Story

Kidney Cancer Symptoms and Treatment

In the early stages, kidney cancer may not cause noticeable symptoms. However, what a patient experiences can differ widely depending on the tumor’s type, size, and location. Below are some potential symptoms and side effects that individuals with kidney cancer might encounter:

• Blood in the urine
• Lower back pain on one side
• Tiredness and fatigue
• Weight loss
• Reduced appetite
• Lumps or growths on the lower back or the side
• High temperature and fever that doesn’t seem to go away
• Anemia: low counts of red blood cells

Surgery is often the primary approach for treating kidney tumors, with the goal of fully removing the cancer. However, this option is typically considered when the tumor is still localized—meaning it’s a manageable size and hasn’t spread (metastasized) to other parts of the body. There are several types of surgical procedures used to treat kidney cancer, including:

• Radical nephrectomy
• Partial nephrectomy
• Cytoreductive nephrectomy
• Laparoscopic and robotic surgery
• Mastectomy

Treatment Options for Kidney Cancer: What You Should Know

Kidney cancer can be treated through a range of approaches—each designed to target cancer cells in different ways. Your care team will help determine the best path forward based on your diagnosis, overall health, and personal preferences. Here’s a breakdown of key treatment options:

• Radiofrequency Ablation (RFA): This minimally invasive procedure uses a needle inserted directly into the tumor. Electric currents and radiofrequency waves heat and destroy the cancerous tissue from within.
• Cryoablation: In this technique, extremely cold probes are placed into the tumor to freeze and kill cancer cells. It’s often used for small tumors or patients who aren’t candidates for surgery.
• Chemotherapy: Chemotherapy uses powerful medications to stop cancer cells from growing, dividing, or surviving. While kidney cancer is often resistant to traditional chemotherapy, certain drugs may be used in specific cases or in combination with other therapies.
• Radiation Therapy: High-energy particles or waves are used to damage and destroy cancer cells. The two main types are:
  • External Beam Radiation: Delivered from outside the body, targeting the tumor with precision.
  • Internal Radiation (Brachytherapy): Places radioactive material directly inside or near the tumor.
• Immunotherapy: This innovative approach activates your immune system to better detect and attack cancer cells. Treatments like immune checkpoint inhibitors help the body overcome cancer’s defenses and mount a stronger response.
• Targeted Therapy: These drugs zero in on specific genes or proteins that fuel cancer growth. One notable example is belzutifan (Welireg), approved by the FDA in August 2021 for patients with Von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) disease-related kidney cancers. Belzutifan blocks a protein called HIF-2α, which normally supplies oxygen and nutrients to cancer cells—cutting off this pathway can shrink tumors significantly.
• Combination Therapy: In many cases, doctors may recommend a blend of treatments—such as immunotherapy paired with targeted therapy—to increase effectiveness and tailor care to your unique needs.

WATCH: Immunotherapy Needs to be Tailored

The Immunotherapy Offering Kidney Cancer Patients Hope

The immunotherapy drug Keytruda is approved to treat some types of kidney cancer. Immunotherapy is a powerful cancer treatment option that uses the patient’s own immune cells to fight the cancer after a bit of reengineering in a lab. The drug’s approval stemmed from the KEYNOTE-564 trial.

“The goal (of the study) was to see if (the drug) can prevent kidney cancer coming back,” Dr. Toni Choueiri, director of the Lank Center for Genitourinary Oncology at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and lead author of the study, tells SurvivorNet. (The study itself was supported by pharmaceutical company Merck & Co. and conceived by Dr. Choueiri and some co-authors.)

Keytruda was approved for the adjuvant treatment (additional cancer treatment given after the primary treatment) of patients with renal cell carcinoma at an intermediate-high or high risk of recurrence following nephrectomy, or following nephrectomy and resection (removal) of metastatic lesions.

A Note on Side Effects and Shared Decision-Making

While these treatments offer hope, they can also come with side effects that impact your body and daily life. That’s why it’s essential to have open, honest conversations with your doctor. Together, you can weigh the risks and benefits, explore supportive care options, and choose a treatment plan that aligns with your values and goals.

What to Know About Von Hippel-Lindau Syndrome

According to the American Society of Clinical Oncology, Von Hippel-Lindau Syndrome (VHL) has been linked to the onset of many types of benign and malignant tumors, including a 60% risk of getting kidney cancer.

VHL is a rare genetic condition that happens as a result of VHL gene impairment (either gene deletion or mutation) and can cause several types of tumors to grow in different areas of the body. These tumors can be benign or malignant.

Questions For Your Doctor

If you are faced with kidney cancer or you are caring for a loved one who is, here are some questions you can ask your care team to ensure you are getting the best treatment possible.

• What treatment options are available for my specific type and stage of kidney cancer, and how do they differ?
• What are the potential benefits and risks of each treatment, including surgery, targeted therapy, and immunotherapy?
• How will treatment affect my daily life?
• Are there clinical trials that might be appropriate for my situation?
• How will we monitor whether the treatment is working, and what are the next steps if it isn’t?

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