Stage 4 kidney cancer: What treatments help?

Thanks for the response. Hip pain reduced significantly. Still there, but minimal. Started Cabo and Opdivo two days ago. No reaction so far, but only two days. Cabo is 20mg daily right now. Supposed to go to 40mg in two weeks. If side effects minimal, going to ask oncologist if can stay at 20mg. Wonderful folks at infusion center. Infusion is 240mg. Only took 30 minutes. Port was a good thing to do.

@debet, you're right that many advances have been made, not only in cancer treatments, but also in helping to manage side effects. I'm bringing @koke into the discussion. They have experience with cabometyx and Opdivo.

How is treatment going? Has the hip pain been reduced? How are YOU doing?

Not sure I can offer anything; I've only had one treatment but not a lot of side effects from it yet. Mainly feeling tired and joint pain, vomiting just once. Still able to work full-time.

I like the idea of my treatment only attacks the cancer cells unlike chemo or radiation that kills good and bad cells.

Stay positive and strong, there are new drugs coming out all the time.

My 82 year old husband has just been diagnosed. Hip pain which was from a lesion that biopsy confirmed started from the kidney. Getting radiation now to hip. Will start chemo (cabometyx) and immunotherapy (opdivo) first of April.

We both lost prior spouse to cancer (pancreatic and ovarian). He is remembering the treatment from 20-30 years ago. We know there have been advancements.

We’ve read the side effects from the treatments. Not having issues with radiation and are halfway through.

Any advice?

@carly1811, if you would like to seek a second opinion at Mayo Clinic, you can submit here: http://mayocl.in/1mtmR63

What treatment plan has been recommended for you?

This may be of some benefit. And remember Carly… “incurable” does NOT mean terminal.
https://www.cancer.gov/research/infrastructure/cancer-centers

Hi all, I am 36 in the UK and been diagnosed with incurable kidney cancer that has spread to my lung and liver. I'm otherwise fit and healthy. I am not letting this beat me. I am searching globally for more state of the art drugs, treatment, anything. I have looked at Mayo clinic and it has come out as top search on Google. Please can anyone recommend anything for me?

Hang in there Ron.
It is very stressful. I was also losing sleep... Just became a first-time grandfather 2 months before kidney cancer was confirmed.
My kidney cancer was found by 'accident'. I went in for lung CT scan. Good news is lungs look good, but they found something in my right kidney.
Went on for kidney scan to verify the mass.
Biopsy confirmed it was kidney cancer.
I had no symptoms.
Surgery on 12/12/24 to remove 10% of right kidney. So far so good.
Plan is to get MRI every 3 months this year and twice next year.

This too shall pass!

Thank you,

they do want to cut it out after they get it under control they said.

Not sure about work, it can be very stressful, I manager a large retail store and the combination of stress from work and the cancer is a lot of stress for me. It's affecting my sleep and home life. I am lucky to get 3 or 4 hours of sleep at night.

My concentration at work is terrible and the stress has made it so I have trouble remembering for 2 or 3 seconds, I will get up to go talk to someone and forget what I was going to do before I get out the door. Just not sure if I should take leave for a while and concentrate on the cancer. Also not having any idea how I am going to react to the treatment and how that is going to affect work is a concern.

enough whining, thanks everyone for the positive comments!

Dear Ron,
I’m also 67 years old, and at the end of 2023 I was diagnosed with kidney cancer. It was discovered by chance as well. I underwent a partial nephrectomy, and I’m currently in the follow-up phase. I believe surgery is the main treatment option. There’s also the possibility of freezing the cancer cells, but only your doctor can tell you if that applies in your situation.

Regarding work, I’ve continued working, and I think it’s helped me a lot emotionally. I’ve always been active in sports, and I still go running and work out. As for my diet, I’ve cut out anything that ends up turning into sugar in the body—of course, that includes sugar itself, flour, and so on.

Keep your spirits up; try not to focus solely on the illness. Make your days as positive and beautiful as possible. Practice meditation, and try to stay calm.

Sending a warm embrace,
Analía Soria Batista