Treatment options

Surgery

If your cancer is contained within the kidneys then surgery is potentially a curative option. The aim of surgery is to remove the cancer in its entirety, by either taking out part of, or, the whole of the affected kidney. These procedures are known as a total or partial nephrectomy. 

In the majority of cases the procedure will be performed as keyhole surgery. However, sometimes it is necessary for it to be done as an open procedure. 

You can read more about the surgery for kidney cancer on the Macmillan website (opens in new tab). 

If surgery is recommended for you, it will be performed at Frimley Park Hospital, which is the centre of excellence within our network. You may be referred back to Royal Surrey Cancer Centre for your follow-up treatment and care if there is a high or intermediate risk that your cancer could come back.

 

Follow-up treatment

Immunotherapy

You may be offered immunotherapy treatment for a year following your surgery, if your tumour has been totally removed and is considered to be high risk of coming back.

Find out more about receiving immunotherapy treatment at Royal Surrey Cancer Centre.

 

If your cancer has spread

If your cancer has spread outside of the kidney, Immunotherapy or targeted cancer medicine may be recommended to try and stop the cancer from growing.

 

Immunotherapy and Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors (TKIs)

Kidney cancer is treated with Immunotherapy and Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors (TKIs) or a combination of both of these drugs. You will not receive traditional chemotherapy as it does not work for kidney cancer. 

Immunotherapy is given IV into the vein via a drip and TKI drugs are taken as tablets orally. Treatment is given on an ongoing basis, so as long as it is working for you, it will be continued. You will receive a CT scans every three months to monitor the cancer.