Kidney Cancer: Newly Diagnosed

Being told you have kidney cancer can be scary, and you may have many questions. But you have people on your healthcare team to help.

Coping with fear

It’s normal to feel afraid. Learning about kidney cancer and your treatment choices can help you feel less afraid. This also helps you work with your healthcare team and make the best choices for your treatment. You can also ask to speak with a counselor.

Working with your healthcare team

Your healthcare team will likely include:

• Urologist. This is a healthcare provider who treats diseases of the kidney and urinary tract. The urologist may use surgery or other procedures to diagnose and treat kidney cancer.

• Urologic oncologist. This is a healthcare provider who specializes in diagnosing and treating cancers of the urinary system.

• Medical oncologist. This is a healthcare provider who specializes in treating cancer with chemotherapy, targeted therapy, immunotherapy, and other medicines.

• Radiation oncologist. This is a healthcare provider who specializes in treating cancer with radiation therapy.

There will be other healthcare professionals on your treatment team, too. They may include nurse practitioners, physician assistants, nurses, and social workers. They will answer any questions you may have. They’ll help you through each of the steps you’ll take before, during, and after treatment. Your team will let you know what tests you need and the results of those tests. They’ll guide you in making treatment decisions and help prepare you and your loved ones for what’s ahead.

Learning about treatment choices

To decide the best course of treatment for you, your healthcare team needs to know as much as they can about your cancer. This may involve getting some tests and working with more than one healthcare provider. And you may decide that you want to get a second opinion to help you choose a treatment. Your team can help you do this. They can also guide you to good websites and other resources you can use to learn more.

Getting support

Coping with cancer can be very stressful. Talk with your healthcare team about seeing a counselor. They can refer you to someone who can help. You can also visit support groups to talk with other people coping with cancer. Ask your healthcare team about local and online support groups.