Resource Center

Understand who is most commonly diagnosed with kidney cancer and get support for survivorship.

Cancer survivors sometimes experience ongoing pain after cancer treatment. Chronic (or persistent) pain may be mild or severe, and may affect quality of life. The good news is that there are now many methods of treating pain. Be sure to tell your health care team if you are having pain. You do not have to live your life in pain.

Some survivors need to live with an ostomy after cancer treatment. An ostomy is a surgical opening from an organ inside the body to the outside of the body. This allows waste to empty into a pouch outside the body or for nutrients to enter. Knowing how to manage daily life with an ostomy can help you live your life with confidence.

Sometimes survivors may feel extremely tired or feel like they don’t have enough energy to carry out daily activities. Fatigue is one of the most common symptoms experienced by survivors during active treatment. Knowing the causes and how to recognize symptoms can help you manage fatigue.

You will work with your health care provider to develop a cancer treatment plan. This is the guide for your cancer care and treatment. Take the time to learn about your type of cancer and the current treatment options. This will help you identify the best option for your situation. Ask questions and discuss what you learn with your health care team.

The most common cancer treatments today are surgery, chemotherapy and radiation. A cancer patient may receive one or a combination of these or other types of treatment. The type of treatment you receive depends on the type and stage of cancer.

One to three percent of survivors develop a second cancer different from the originally treated cancer. The level of risk is small, and greater numbers of survivors are living longer due to improvements in treatment. However, even thinking about the possibility of having a second cancer can be stressful.

Survivorship after treatment is an important phase of cancer care. The Institute of Medicine’s (IOM) report, From Cancer Patient to Cancer Survivor: Lost in Transition, recommends that each cancer patient receive a Survivorship Care Plan—a plan for wellness to help you continue to receive the best health care.

Do you understand the information you’re getting from your health care team? Do you know what questions to ask? You need good communication to get the best care from your health care team members.

There are no guarantees, but health screenings and some lifestyle changes can help you stay healthy and reduce your risk for cancer. Let your provider know you want to do what is necessary to stay healthy and share what you are doing to be healthy on your own.

There may be reasons to consider changes to your cancer treatment plan. You could learn about a new type of treatment. You cancer could go into remission. You might receive new test results. Be prepared to hear about your options for changes.

Learn as much as you can about your type of cancer and treatment options. Start with information you get from your health care team and the opinions you get from other health care providers.

Osteoporosis is a condition that causes your bones to weaken and become very fragile—sometimes fracturing with little or even no impact. Primary osteoporosis happens from the normal process aging and/or menopause. Secondary osteoporosis is something survivors can experience as a side effect of cancer and treatment.

Clinical trials are scientific studies. They test treatments that are in development. Trials also study other ways of using current treatments. Look into whether a clinical trial could be right for you. Discuss this option with your health care provider as you work together to develop your cancer treatment plan.