Does immunotherapy treat kidney cancer?

Kidney cancer treatment is planned around the type of tumour, whether it is confined to the kidney or has spread, and how well your kidneys and other organs are working. Immunotherapy changes immune activity so immune cells can recognise and attack cancer cells. It may be offered alone or with another systemic medicine, particularly when surgery cannot remove all the disease.

The treatment plan is individual. Your team will consider scans, pathology, symptoms, previous medicines, blood tests and other illnesses. Immunotherapy may control disease for some people, while others may need a different approach or a change in treatment if the cancer progresses or side effects become difficult.

Bring your medicine list and tell the team about kidney disease, autoimmune illness, steroid use, organ transplant history and allergies. Ask how kidney function, blood pressure and other organs will be checked during treatment. Confirm the treatment goal, the expected visit pattern, and the symptoms that should trigger a call. See [Immunotherapy](/treatments/systemic-therapy/immunotherapy/) for a general explanation.

Report reduced urine, swelling, sudden weight change, severe thirst, persistent diarrhoea, vomiting, rash, fever, yellowing of the skin, unusual tiredness or breathlessness. These changes may reflect inflammation or altered function in an organ and need clinical review. Seek urgent help for severe breathing difficulty, chest pain, confusion, fainting or rapidly worsening symptoms.

What type and extent of kidney cancer do I have? Is immunotherapy being used alone or with another treatment? How will kidney function and immune effects be monitored? What symptoms should make me pause a dose or seek urgent help? What alternatives are available if this plan does not work for me?