Patients in Northeastern Ontario are now benefiting from a ground-breaking kidney cancer treatment at Health Sciences North (HSN), one that eliminates the need for major surgery.
Cryoablation therapy, a minimally invasive procedure that uses extreme cold to destroy cancer cells, allows patients to be treated closer to home while preserving kidney function and reducing recovery time.
For Cameron, a 36-year-old Northeastern Ontario resident, the diagnosis came as a shock.
“It’s scary when you first hear it,” he said. “You hear the word cancer and you just automatically think the worst.”
Initially expecting to lose a kidney, Cameron was referred to HSN, where he became a candidate for cryoablation.
“I thought I was going to lose a kidney,” he said. “But they were able to treat it without that. There wasn’t much recovery time. They go in, they get it done, and you come home.”
Cryoablation works by inserting specialized probes into the tumour using CT and ultrasound guidance. These probes rapidly freeze the cancer, forming an “ice ball” that destroys tumour cells while preserving surrounding healthy tissue.
“We can precisely target the tumour and ensure it is completely treated,” said Dr. Thelina Amaratunga. “At the same time, we’re sparing as much normal kidney as possible, which is critical for long-term health.”
Historically, many kidney cancer patients required partial or complete removal of the kidney. While effective, surgery often involves general anesthesia, inpatient hospitalization, and longer recovery times, and can increase the risk of long-term complications, including reduced kidney function, said Dr. Amaratunga. Cryoablation, on the other hand, offers a minimally invasive alternative performed as an outpatient day procedure with shorter recovery, lower resource utilization, and, in many cases, curative results.
“In some situations, patients come in facing a cancer diagnosis in the morning and leave knowing their tumour has been completely treated,” said Dr. Amaratunga.
“Cryoablation is a powerful example of how far minimally invasive cancer care has come,” said Dr. Hooman Hennessey, Diagnostic and Interventional Radiologist at HSN. “Using advanced imaging, we can precisely target a kidney tumour through tiny probe access points, treat it effectively, and help patients avoid a much larger operation, all while preserving as much healthy kidney as possible.”
For patients in Northeastern Ontario, access to this advanced care close to home is a game-changer. HSN is currently the only hospital in Northern Ontario offering kidney tumour cryoablation, allowing many patients to avoid travelling hundreds of kilometres for treatment.
“Being able to get this procedure done in Northern Ontario took a lot of stress right out of the equation,” Cameron said.
Health Sciences North credits ongoing innovation, research, and community support for making treatments like cryoablation possible.
“These advancements reflect the strength of our clinical teams and our commitment to delivering leading-edge care in the North,” said HSN President and CEO, David McNeil. “Philanthropy plays a vital role in supporting the tools, technology, and environment needed to bring these innovations to life.”
Today, Cameron is back to his active lifestyle with his family, but now he is cancer-free.
“I’m a young guy. I’ve got a beautiful wife, a daughter, two dogs,” he said. “Because of this, I get to keep living my life.”
View Cameron’s story here: https://youtu.be/JdpUYrrAvFI