What are the treatment options for kidney cancer?

Your care team considers the tumour's size, position and number, whether it has spread, how well the kidneys work and your general health. Kidney removal surgery may remove part of a kidney or the whole kidney. Tumour ablation destroys a selected tumour using heat or another local technique and may suit some smaller tumours or people who need a less extensive approach.

Immunotherapy helps the immune system recognise and attack cancer cells. Targeted therapy acts on specific signals that kidney cancer cells use to grow or obtain blood supply. These treatments may be used alone or in a planned combination, particularly when surgery is not enough or cancer has spread.

Bring your scan reports, biopsy information if performed, medicines and a record of other health conditions. Ask whether the aim is to remove the cancer, control it, or relieve symptoms, and how each option could affect kidney function. A specialist may discuss active monitoring for a slow-growing tumour in selected situations, with scheduled imaging and review.

Before treatment, ask who will coordinate surgery or medicines, what appointments and tests are needed, and which changes should be reported promptly. Do not stop prescribed medicines without checking with your treating team.

Contact your oncology team promptly for new blood in the urine, worsening pain in the side or back, fever, repeated vomiting, marked weakness, or much less urine than usual. Seek emergency care for severe breathlessness, confusion, fainting, heavy bleeding or sudden severe pain.

Which treatment fits the tumour's location and stage? How might treatment affect the remaining kidney tissue? Would surgery, ablation, immunotherapy or targeted therapy be used first? What tests will monitor kidney function and treatment response?