Living with kidney cancer
There are organisations and support groups to help you cope with kidney cancer and treatment. There are also general support organisations that you can contact.
Cancer Research UK is the largest cancer research organisation in the world outside the USA. We fund research on all aspects of cancer from its causes to prevention and treatment.
We are committed to producing high quality information for people affected by cancer. As well as looking at the information on this website you can call our nurse freephone helpline on 0808 800 4040. They are available from Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm. Or you can send them a question online.
Contact our cancer information nurses
Cancer Chat is our online forum where you can share experiences.
Action Kidney Cancer is a patient -led kidney cancer charity. They have a website and helpline.
Helpline: 0800 121 8721 Email: support@actionkidneycancer.org
Go to the Action Kidney Cancer website
The Myrovlytis Trust is a medical research charity that promotes research into rare genetic disorders. It runs a website focusing on Birt Hogg Dubé Syndrome (BHD), a condition which increases the risk of kidney cancer.
The BHD Foundation offers support for BHD patients and encourages communication through an online forum. It also gives detailed information for people with BHD syndrome and their families.
Phone: 020 8050 2091 Email: https://www.thebhdfoundation.org/contact-bhd
Provides free, reliable information about health issues including mental health, by sharing people's real-life experiences.
Kidney Cancer UK offers support for people with kidney cancer and their carers. It provides reliable information about kidney cancer and its treatment. It also has an online forum to share experiences and a support line.
Support line: 0800 002 9002 Contact form
Macmillan Cancer Support is a charity that gives practical and medical support to people with cancer in the UK. Its helpline offers support with clinical, emotional, general and welfare benefits needs. They also publish booklets about cancer and treatments. Information is available in other languages.
Freephone: 0808 808 00 00 (7 days a week, 8am to 8pm) Contact email form
Maggie’s is a national charity with centres across the UK. They offer care and support to people affected by cancer. Each centre is beside an NHS cancer hospital and is run by specialist staff.
You can join a support group, take part in weekly sessions like relaxation and stress management, or learn about nutrition and health. You can also visit just to have a cup of tea and a friendly chat.
Phone: 0300 123 1801 Email: enquiries@maggies.org
The National Cancer Institute (NCI) is the US organisation for cancer research. It has information about all types of cancer.
World Cancer Research Fund is a charity that provides information and advice about nutrition, physical activity and cancer. They also have a helpline run by dietitians.
Helpline: 0300 102 2523 (Tuesdays 12pm – 2pm and Thursdays 6pm to 8pm)
Email: helpline@wcrf.org
You can find books about cancer, treatments, and living with cancer on our general reading list.
There are organisations and support services in your local area that you can access. You can ask your specialist nurse or doctor for more information about cancer services near you.
The NHS website has a service that tells you about local information and support in England.
NHS Inform gives information about illness, treatments and NHS services for people in Scotland.
NHS 111 Wales gives health advice and information for people living in Wales.
The Northern Ireland Cancer Network (NICaN) website tells you where to find cancer information and support in Northern Ireland.
Last reviewed: 09 Jan 2024
Next review due: 09 Jan 2027
Your doctor and other health professionals meet to discuss the treatments suitable for you. This depends on factors such as the size of the cancer and if it has spread. Treatments include surgery, freezing or heating the cancer and targeted and immunotherapy drugs.
Advanced kidney cancer means it has spread beyond the lymph nodes to other areas of the body such as the lungs or bones. Treatment aims to control the cancer and relieve symptoms.
Coping with kidney cancer is difficult. There are specialists who can help you and your family and friends cope. There are also things you can do.
Coping with advanced kidney cancer can be extremely difficult. As well as family and friends, there are people at the hospital and in your community who can help support you.
Find out about general cancer organisations, other resources and support.
Kidney cancer is cancer that starts in the kidneys. The kidneys filter waste products out of your blood as urine. Kidney cancer develops when abnormal cells in either of the kidneys start to divide and grow in an uncontrolled way.
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Questions about cancer? Call freephone 0808 800 40 40 from 9 to 5 - Monday to Friday. Alternatively, you can email us.
