Follow-up after treatment for kidney cancer

After your treatment is completed, you may need to have regular check-ups at the hospital. Your doctor or specialist nurse will tell you how long you will need to have these for.

Many people find that they get very anxious in the time leading up to their appointments. This is natural and it may help to get support from family, friends or a support organisation during this time.

If you have any problems, or notice any new symptoms between follow-up appointments, let your doctor know as soon as possible.

For people whose treatment is over apart from regular check-ups, our section on adjusting to life after cancer treatment gives useful advice on how to keep healthy and adjust to life after cancer.

If kidney cancer comes back

In some cases, kidney cancer can come back after treatment. It may come back in the same area in which it first started (a local recurrence) or it may develop in a different part of the body (a metastasis or secondary cancer). If this happens, your doctor will explain the extent of the cancer and how it will be treated.

Learning that your cancer has come back can feel devastating. We have a section on coping with advanced cancer which you may find helpful. You may also find it helpful to contact our cancer support specialists.

Living with and after cancer

Emotional effects

Information on the emotions you might experience as a result of your cancer diagnosis, ways that you might manage them and other sources of support.

Relationships and communication

Advice on how to talk to other people, talking to children, relationships and sexuality.

Note: JASCAP has booklets on these subjects.