Exploring Advanced Renal Cell Carcinoma: Expert and Patient Perspectives

Thomas Hutson, DO, PharmD, discusses renal cell carcinoma, including its epidemiology, risk factors, subtypes, and management approaches, in a dialogue with his clinical nurse, Kacie Ellis, RN, and his patient, Mr. Cesar Fuentes.

Dr Thomas Hutson outlines the diagnosis and staging of renal cell carcinoma, the surgical and non-surgical treatment options, and notes that while the majority of cases are potentially curable, 20-25% of patients present with or later develop metastatic disease.

Mr. Cesar Fuentes had a kidney tumor surgically removed; lymph node and bone metastases years later led to immune and targeted therapy which have provided significant tumor shrinkage and generally mild, manageable side effects.

After his initial fear, Mr. Fuentes educated himself extensively on cancer to understand his diagnosis, which along with having a treatment plan in place, specialist referrals, and tolerable side effects, helps him maintain a positive mindset and manageable quality of life with stage 4 disease.

Nurses play a key role in kidney cancer care by educating patients on medications, closely monitoring and managing side effects, coordinating care, providing emotional support, and serving as the first line of communication with patients about treatment concerns.

Mr. Fuentes felt it was important to understand the range of potential side effects to anticipate how his body would potentially react to treatment for RCC and determine his physical abilities and support needs, but was most focused on whether his first post-treatment scan showed tumor shrinkage.

Kidney cancer, which once had few treatment options, now has multiple oral targeted therapies leading to improved survival; immunotherapy combinations further increased clinical benefit over previous options, providing clinicians several approved regimens from which to choose the optimal therapy for each patient.

Dr. Hutson explains approaches to educating patients on potential side effects of immunotherapy combinations for kidney cancer, empowering them to manage side effects and maintain quality of life while getting clinical benefit from these life-extending therapies.

A patient's perspective on managing the side effects of treatment for advanced RCC.

Experts share future perspectives on the treatment and management of patients with RCC.

Personal advice on how to manage living with RCC.

Thomas Hutson, DO, PharmD, meets with his patient Cesar Fuentes to discuss his diagnosis and treatment for renal cell carcinoma.