Kidney cancer · Help and support
Help with understanding your kidney cancer appointment
Your urology team and specialist nurse can explain your results, the choices available and the next steps. Ask them to show you on the model what your results mean.
Open the explorer Read the guide
If you feel unwell during or after treatment, use the 24-hour number your hospital team gave you. Otherwise call NHS 111. In an emergency, call 999.
Your urology team and specialist nurse can explain your results, the choices available and the next steps. Keep your nurse’s name and direct number somewhere easy to find.
Someone to talk to
Macmillan Support Line
Cancer information nurses, money and work advice, or someone to talk to. 7 days a week, 8am to 8pm.
0808 808 00 00Samaritans
If you are struggling to cope, any time, day or night.
116 123
Words you may hear
- Renal
- To do with the kidneys.
- Upper and lower pole
- The top and bottom ends of a kidney.
- Partial nephrectomy
- An operation to remove the tumour and part of the kidney.
- Radical nephrectomy
- An operation to remove the whole kidney.
- Ablation
- Destroying a small tumour by freezing or heating it through a needle, without an operation.
- Active surveillance
- Regular scans to watch a small tumour, treating it only if it changes.
- Specialist nurse
- A nurse who supports you through diagnosis and treatment.
Trusted information
NHS: kidney cancer
Symptoms, tests, treatment and living with kidney cancer.
Kidney Cancer UK
Information and support for people affected by kidney cancer.
Action Kidney Cancer
A patient-led charity with information and peer support.
Macmillan: kidney cancer
Patient information and practical, emotional and financial support.
The explorer is a simplified illustration for a conversation with your team. It cannot interpret your report, diagnose cancer, stage it or tell you which treatment is right.