Is there any treatment I can take to help ensure that the cancer wont come back?
In many cancers, people can take additional insurance policy treatments to reduce the chance of the cancer coming back. You may have heard of chemotherapy, hormone therapy or radiotherapy as additional (adjuvant) treatments for cancer. Past studies indicated that these treatments did not seem to work for patients with kidney cancer. However one study published in 2016 showed benefit for select high-risk patients who took sunitinib for one year. Then in 2021, another study also showed a benefit in preventing recurrence in high-risk patients who received the immunotherapy drug pembrolizumab for one year. Adjuvant therapy carries risks of side effects that must be considered when deciding to go this route. Ongoing study of real-world data will help to determine which patients could benefit from adjuvant therapy following surgery and how this approach affects their quality of life and overall survival. In the meantime, patients are encouraged to seek an expert opinion to make a fully informed decision.
Researchers are continuing to study different therapies as an adjuvant treatment in kidney cancer. Current trials in the adjuvant setting are listed in our clinical trials database.
Follow-up after treatment?
All cancer survivors should have follow-up care. Once you have finished your cancer treatment, you will establish a follow-up cancer care plan with your treatment team, which may include seeing a range of health professionals.
In general, kidney cancer survivors usually return to their specialist every three to four months during the first few years after treatment, and once or twice a year after that. At these visits, your doctor will look for side effects from treatment and will check to ensure your cancer has not returned (recurred) or spread (metastasised) to another part of your body. The type of tests will depend upon your stage and grade of kidney cancer.
Like most cancers, the chance of the cancer returning is highest soon after treatment. The longer away from the treatment, the greater chance the cancer will not recur. However, your treatment team will want to follow you for some time. In some countries, kidney cancer patients are followed for 5 years following initial surgery. Your patient organisation can refer you to guidelines for follow-up that are specific to kidney cancer in your country or other countries.
