Radiotherapy for advanced kidney cancer

When you might have radiotherapy for kidney cancer

Kidney cancer is less sensitive to radiotherapy than some other types of cancer, so your doctor may recommend other treatments instead. However, radiotherapy can still be helpful in some situations.

You might have radiotherapy to:

• control the growth of kidney cancer if you can’t have surgery

• help relieve symptoms such as pain or blood in your urine 

• treat cancer that has spread away from the kidney, such as in the lungs, brain or bones

• help relieve symptoms of cancer that has spread away from the kidney

Having radiotherapy for kidney cancer

You may have a single treatment or treatments over a number of days or weeks. This depends on:

• where the cancer is

• what the aim of the treatment is

• what dose (fraction) of radiotherapy is being given

There are different types of external radiotherapy, such as intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) and image guided radiotherapy (IGRT). But the experience of having these are very similar.

Another type of external radiotherapy is stereotactic radiotherapy. This means you have radiotherapy from many different angles around the body. The radiation beams all meet where the cancer is. This means the cancer receives a high dose of radiation and the tissues around it receive a much lower dose. This lowers the risk of side effects.

You might have stereotactic radiotherapy for kidney cancer that has spread to the brain or lungs.

Read more about the different types of external radiotherapy

The radiotherapy room

Radiotherapy machines are very big and could make you feel nervous when you see them for the first time. The machine might be fixed in one position. Or it might rotate around your body to give treatment from different directions. The machine doesn't touch you at any point.

Before your first treatment, your ​radiographers​ will explain what you will see and hear. In some departments, the treatment rooms have docks for you to plug in music players. So you can listen to your own music while you have treatment.

During the treatment

You need to lie very still. Your radiographers might take images (x-rays or scans) before your treatment. This is to make sure that you're in the right position. The machine makes whirring and beeping sounds. You won’t feel anything when you have the treatment.

Your radiographers can see and hear you on a CCTV screen in the next room. They can talk to you over an intercom and might ask you to hold your breath or take shallow breaths at times. You can also talk to them through the intercom or raise your hand if you need to stop or if you're uncomfortable.

You won't be radioactive

This type of radiotherapy won't make you radioactive. It's safe to be around other people, including pregnant women and children.

Possible side effects

People react to radiotherapy in different ways. Side effects also depend on which part of the body is being treated. You might not have many side effects. Radiotherapy to help control symptoms usually only causes mild side effects. Talk to your doctor or radiographer about any side effects that you do get.

Side effects can include:

Travelling to radiotherapy appointments

You might have to travel a long way each day for your radiotherapy. This depends on where your nearest cancer centre is. This can make you very tired, especially if you have side effects from the treatment.

You can ask your radiographers for an appointment time to suit you. They will do their best, but some departments might be very busy. Some radiotherapy departments are open from 7 am till 9 pm.

Car parking can be difficult at hospitals. Ask the radiotherapy staff if you are able to get free parking or discounted parking. They may be able to give you tips on free places to park nearby.

Hospital transport may be available if you have no other way to get to the hospital. But it might not always be at convenient times. It is usually for people who struggle to use public transport. Or who have any other illnesses or disabilities. You might need to arrange hospital transport yourself.

Some people are able to claim back a refund for healthcare travel costs. This is based on the type of appointment and whether you claim certain benefits. Ask the radiotherapy staff for more information about this and hospital transport.

Some hospitals have their own drivers and local charities might offer hospital transport. So do ask if any help is available in your area.

Your specialist nurse (CNS) or GP surgery may be able to tell you what transport options there are near you. They may also be able to help you arrange them.

Read more about having radiotherapy and its side effects