Have Kidney Cancer And Feeling Weak. Started Taking Prednisone. How Long Will It Take To Cure?

Posted on Wed, 27 Mar 2013

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Wed, 27 Mar 2013 Answered on

Wed, 17 Apr 2013 Last reviewed on

Question : my 83 year old father is totally bed ridden in the last month with total weakness from kidney cancer, doctor just started him on 80mg of prednisone a day, he has to get much stronger so they can take the kidney out. How long til he starts to get stronger from the prednisone?

Answered by Dr. Mamun Kabir (-26 minutes later)

Hello,

Thank you for your query.

Prednisone is not prescribed to get strength, though sometimes it helps to increase appetite. In cancerous patient the role of prednisone is not so clear. It may induce apoptotic cell death. It also decreases peritumour inflammatory edema (swelling around the tumour).
As a result, intervention during operation becomes less difficult.

It is very difficult to say how much time it will take to get adequate fitness. It depends on his nutrition, presence or absence of infection and physical condition.

Continue the medication according to doctor's advice.

I hope I have been some help of your query. Please write if you have any doubt.

Take care

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Prasad