Questions to Ask About Kidney Cancer

It’s important to have honest, open discussions with your cancer care team. They want to answer all your questions, so that you can make informed treatment and life decisions. For instance, consider these questions:

When you’re told you have kidney cancer

• What type of kidney cancer do I have?
• Where is the cancer located?
• Has the cancer spread beyond where it started?
• What is the stage of the cancer, and what does that mean for me?
• Will I need other tests before we can decide on treatment?
• Do I need to see any other doctors or health professionals?
• Is there a chance I have an inherited condition that increased my risk of kidney cancer? Should I consider genetic testing?
• If I’m concerned about the costs and insurance coverage for my diagnosis and treatment, who can help me?

When deciding on a treatment plan

• What are my treatment options?
• What do you recommend and why?
• Does my cancer need to be treated right away, or can it be watched closely ?
• How much experience do you have treating this type of cancer?
• Should I get a second opinion? How do I do that? Can you recommend a doctor or cancer center?
• What would the goal of treatment be?
• How quickly do we need to decide on treatment? What should I do to be ready for treatment?
• How long will treatment last? What will it be like? Where will it be done?
• What risks or side effects are there to the treatments you suggest? Are there things I can do to reduce the side effects?
• How might treatment affect my daily activities? Can I still work full time?
• What are the chances the cancer will recur (come back) with these treatment plans?
• What will we do if the treatment doesn’t work or if the cancer recurs?
• What if I have trouble getting to and from my treatments because of transportation problems?

During treatment

Once treatment begins, you’ll need to know what to expect and what to look for. Not all of these questions may apply to you, but asking the ones that do may be helpful.

• How will we know if the treatment is working?
• Is there anything I can do to help manage side effects?
• What symptoms or side effects should I tell you about right away?
• How can I reach someone on the team on nights, holidays, or weekends?
• Do I need to change what I eat during treatment?
• Are there any limits on what I can do?
• Can I exercise during treatment? If so, what kind of exercise should I do, and how often?
• If I start to feel overwhelmed, depressed, or distressed, can you suggest a mental health professional I can see?
• What if I need some social support during treatment?

After treatment

• Do I need to follow a special diet after treatment?
• Are there any limits on what I can do?
• What symptoms should I watch for?
• What type of follow-up will I need after treatment?
• How often will I need to have follow-up exams and imaging tests?
• How will we know if the cancer has come back? What should I watch for?

Along with these sample questions, be sure to write down some of your own. For instance, you might want more information about recovery times so you can plan your work or activity schedule. You might also want to ask about clinical trials for which you may qualify.

Keep in mind that doctors are not the only ones who can provide you with information. Other health care professionals, such as nurses and social workers, may have the answers to some of your questions. You can find more information about communicating with your health care team in The Doctor-Patient Relationship.