Support for Kidney Cancer
Doctors at ¶¶Òõ¶ÌÊÓƵ encourage regular follow-up care after treatment for kidney cancer. Generally, appointments should occur every three to six months for the first year, then less frequently thereafter. During these appointments, you may need to have urine or blood tests to check your kidney function and imaging tests to ensure the cancer has not returned.
Doctors at ¶¶Òõ¶ÌÊÓƵ’s Perlmutter Cancer Center and Rusk Rehabilitation create a personalized plan to help you recover from surgery and other treatments.
Physical Rehabilitation
After an evaluation by our doctors at Rusk Rehabilitation, physical therapy is prescribed to help people get back on their feet after surgery so they can return home quickly. Our doctors can also prescribe medications for postoperative pain and discomfort.
If needed, Rusk Rehabilitation doctors can prescribe an outpatient rehabilitation program with the goal of keeping you as independent as possible, at home and in the community. The program focuses on strength training and aerobic exercise to address tumor- and treatment-related weakness and fatigue. It also aims to improve balance, flexibility, and mobility.
Nutrition
Our doctors encourage healthy eating as a part of kidney cancer follow-up care. Registered oncology dietitians at Perlmutter Cancer Center provide nutrition education and counseling.
Psychological and Social Support
Support groups and one-on-one counseling sessions with a psycho-oncologist, a healthcare provider who is trained to address the psychological needs of people who have cancer, are available at Perlmutter Cancer Center. Counseling can often help alleviate anxiety or depression you may feel during the treatment process. Social workers are available to help you address any financial matters, such as insurance reimbursement, that may arise during treatment.
Supportive Care
¶¶Òõ¶ÌÊÓƵ’s supportive care team provides ongoing treatment for any pain or discomfort that may occur as a result of advanced kidney cancer or its treatments. Pain management may include the use of medications or integrative therapies, such as massage therapy, which can help reduce stress, and acupuncture, which may relieve cancer-related pain or fatigue.