Living with Kidney Cancer
Cancer changes your life in many ways. It can affect both your body and your mind, how you live your daily life, and your relationships with your family and those around you.
Many people find it empowering to address aspects of their life – such as diet, physical activity and emotional wellness – that can make a positive impact and give them a greater sense of control.
From the time of diagnosis through your treatment and into survivorship, there are resources designed specifically for people with cancer. Be sure to take advantage of these programs and specialists who can support you throughout your cancer care journey.
Nutrition
Your diet provides the building blocks for your body. It also may help in your fight against cancer. Some studies have shown certain foods and nutrients can:
- Boost the immune system to fight infection
- Prevent damage to healthy body tissue
- Reduce inflammation
- Reduce fatigue
- Promote growth of healthy tissue
We still have more to learn about the relationship between food and cancer. Because diet is one thing you can control, many people try making changes to what they eat and drink. Registered dietitians who specialize in cancer can help with meal planning and supplements:
- To address cancer symptom and treatment side effects
- If your cancer or treatment impacts your ability to eat enough food
- With an eye toward preventing cancer recurrence
Physical Activity and Exercise
You may benefit from physical activity during your cancer treatment, recovery and survivorship. Under medical supervision, physical activity can help:
- Boost your energy level
- Increase your physical endurance
- Build muscle and bone strength
- Maintain a healthy weight and prevent obesity
In addition to the physical benefits, an active lifestyle also can build confidence, prevent anxiety and depression, and improve your overall outlook on life.
Complementary and Alternative Medicine
Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is a practice that, together with standard medical care, may benefit some people with cancer. It is important to receive treatment or instruction from practitioners who have special training and certification in cancer. Discuss these services with your doctor to be sure they safely support your existing treatment plan.
Examples of complementary and alternative medicine include:
- Acupuncture: Applies fine needles to specific areas of the body, to stimulate nerves and release body chemicals that relieve pain, vomiting and nausea.
- Biofeedback: Uses special machines to help you control muscle tension, heart rate and other body functions.
- Chiropractic: Manipulation of the spine and joints to relieve bone and musculoskeletal pain.
- Hypnosis: Guides you into an altered state to more openly explore and manage thoughts, feelings and behaviors.
- Massage: Kneading of your muscles and soft tissue to relieve tension and tightness and increase blood flow.
- Meditation: Practice of relaxation with focused breathing, sometimes incorporating a repeated mantra, to clear negative thinking and relieve stress.
- Reiki: Practitioner places hands on or hovering above your body with the goal of guiding your own energy to heal.
- Reflexology: Applies pressure to specific points of the hands and feet to relieve symptoms in other parts of the body.
- Tai chi: Exercise with slow, controlled body movements and breathing to improve strength, balance and blood flow.
- Yoga: Exercise with stretching, poses and controlled breathing to increase flexibility, strength, and the mind/body connection.
Counseling & Support Groups
Dealing with kidney cancer can take both a physical and mental toll. At different points throughout your cancer care journey, you may experience feelings including:
- Anxiety around treatment decisions
- Depression
- Guilt for burdening family and caregivers
- Uncertainty about the future
Don’t be afraid to ask for a referral to discuss these and other issues with a clinical psychologist or licensed social worker. Mental health professionals are valuable members of the cancer care team and are available to support you. Cancer support groups are another good source of emotional support during treatment and survivorship.
Social Work
Your home life can greatly influence the success of your cancer treatment and recovery.
As part of the cancer care team, licensed social workers provide support and resources for challenges that may impact your care, including:
- Financial cost of treatment
- Lost wages
- Transitions between the hospital, care facilities and home
- Not having a safe home
- Family and caregiver relationships
Kidney cancer from a heredity syndrome is rare (only 5-8% of cases). However, if you have kidney cancer related to an inherited condition, you may wonder what this means for you and other members of your family.
What conditions are linked to kidney cancer?
Heredity syndromes which increase your risk of kidney cancer are:
- Birt-Hogg-Dubé syndrome
- Hereditary leiomyomatosis and renal cell cancer
- Hereditary papillary renal cancer
- von Hippel-Lindau disease
Should I and/or members of my family get genetic testing?
For kidney cancer, the National Cancer Institute (NCI) suggests genetic testing for someone who has one or more of the following:
- Cancer developed at a young age
- Multiple tumors in one kidney or cancer in both kidneys
- Diagnosis of a type of kidney cancer that is known to be commonly inherited
- Multiple family members have had kidney cancer
How does genetic testing work?
Genetic testing begins with a visit to a genetic counselor. They are specially trained in understanding family medical history and helping you make an informed decision about genetic testing.
The test is done on a sample of blood, saliva or skin. The genetic counselor helps interpret the results and with next steps, including whether other members of your family should get tested.
Why get genetic testing?
If you have kidney cancer from an hereditary syndrome, genetic testing provides valuable information to your care team in determining the best treatment and identifying any clinical trials for your type of cancer.
Family members and/or those identified with the hereditary syndrome can be monitored for signs and symptoms of kidney cancer. Early detection of kidney cancer has been shown to lead to a better outcome.
Role of the Caregiver
Caregivers are family, spouses, partners and close friends who care for you outside the hospital or doctor’s office.
You may need the support of others in daily tasks such as:
- Driving
- Shopping
- Meal preparation
- Household upkeep
- Managing finances
- Pet care
Throughout your cancer journey, your caregiver(s) also may be an extension of your care team:
- Accompanying you to appointments
- Serving as the care team’s point person
- Overseeing and administering medication
- Tracking signs, symptoms and side effects
- Assisting with showering and personal hygiene
Identifying a caregiver or caregivers who can support you is essential to successful cancer treatment and recovery.
Caregiver Support
Most caregivers are not medical professionals. They are loving volunteers who have no training in the tasks they may be expected to do.
That’s why caregivers may experience their own challenges, such as physical exhaustion, stress, anxiety and depression.
If your caregiver needs support, your care team can recommend a clinical psychologist or social worker who can help your caregiver(s) and provide resources. Caregiver support groups also are a good place to start.
Follow-up Care
The end of cancer treatment is not the end of your cancer journey. After you finish cancer treatment, you should receive a follow-up plan from your care team. Your follow-up plan should include:
- Schedule of regular medical care to keep you healthy
- Schedule of tests, lab work and scans to:
- Check if cancer has returned
- Monitor or identify any late-term effects of cancer treatment
Wellness and Prevention
Healthy Lifestyle
Following cancer treatment, you’ll want to maintain a healthy lifestyle that sets you up for long-term success. If necessary, this may include changes such as quitting smoking, drinking less alcohol and keeping a healthy body weight.
Physical Activity
According to the National Cancer Institute (NCI), research shows that staying active may help lower the risk of cancer recurrence. Moderate activity has the added benefit of boosting your mood, reducing bouts of anxiety and depression, increasing your strength and flexibility and countering any long-term side effects from your cancer and treatment.
Be sure to talk with your cancer care provider before beginning any exercise program. There are exercise therapists who work with cancer patients and survivors such as yourself who can design and monitor a safe program for you.
Diet and Nutrition
Your body needs energy to repair itself following cancer treatment. A well-balanced diet is key to replenishing what your body needs and fueling an active lifestyle. A nutritionist or registered dietitian who specializes in cancer can design a daily meal plan. In general, a cancer-fighting diet emphasizes high-fiber foods such as vegetables, fruits and whole grains.
Emotional Support
Even into survivorship, you may continue to experience lingering emotional trauma or anxiety about your cancer returning.
As you adjust to your “new normal” you may have discomfort with physical limitations or other changes in your life, including relationships.
You may benefit from individual counseling with a therapist who specializes in supporting cancer survivors. Cancer survivor support groups also are a good resource.