Some types of kidney cancer treatment can lead to hypertension (high blood pressure) and raise the risk for dangerous complications like heart attack or stroke. In fact, hypertension is the most frequent comorbidity with malignant tumors, seen in 38 percent of people with cancer.

For this reason, it’s important to monitor your blood pressure during cancer treatment and treat it if it gets too high.

For blood pressure monitoring to be effective, it’s important to get it done regularly — as directed by your cancer care team — and that the results are accurate. You’ll also need to let your doctor know if your blood pressure changes, so they can make recommendations if needed.

Here’s what you need to know about why it’s important to monitor your blood pressure during kidney cancer treatment, how to monitor it correctly, and what your monitoring schedule may look like.

Why Monitor Blood Pressure During Kidney Cancer Treatment?

Certain types of cancer treatments can increase the risk of hypertension. Scientists don’t entirely know why this happens as a side effect.

Kidney cancer treatments linked to an increase in blood pressure include:

• Some targeted treatments, such as Bruton’s tyrosine kinase (BTK) inhibitors and tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs)
• Certain immunotherapies such as inhibitors of the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)
• Some traditional chemotherapy drugs, such as cisplatin and gemcitabine

You can ask your doctor whether any of the treatments you’re using might raise your blood pressure. This happens mostly with newer treatments such as targeted therapies or immunotherapies.

Risks of High Blood Pressure

High blood pressure can cause a lot of problems in the body, especially if it goes untreated. It puts you at an increased risk of cardiovascular and other issues, including:

• Stroke
• Heart attack
• Kidney problems
• Heart failure
• Heart disease
• Atherosclerosis (buildup of plaque in the arteries)
• Sexual problems
• Vision loss

Keeping blood pressure under control can help lower your risk for developing these issues.

What’s the Best Way To Monitor Blood Pressure?

There’s no single best way to monitor your blood pressure. The best way is the one that works best for you and your oncology team. Your medical team will get a baseline, which is a result that shows what’s normal before you start treatment, so they know if anything changes.

There are a few ways to monitor your blood pressure. You can get it done at a doctor’s office or a clinic as a follow-up visit, or you can monitor it at home.

While going into an office can help you get more accurate results, since it will be done by a professional, having to travel and missing work can make this inconvenient for some people. If your urology or oncology office isn’t easily accessible or you don’t have reliable transportation, this may be hard.

Some people have what is known as white coat syndrome. This means that they get nervous when they go into a healthcare setting, so their blood pressure goes up. If this happens to you, it means it can be difficult to get an accurate reading of your blood pressure when you’re at a doctor’s office.

Because of these issues, many people prefer to monitor their blood pressure at home. As long as you do it correctly, you can still get accurate results and avoid both the hassle and the anxiety of doing it in a medical setting.

How Often To Monitor Blood Pressure

There’s not a single recommended schedule for monitoring your blood pressure while undergoing treatment for kidney cancer. Talk to your doctor about how often they want you to check it, then follow that schedule.

In general, doctors recommend close monitoring during the first three months of cancer treatment, with weekly monitoring for four to eight weeks. Some medications may require more frequent monitoring.

For instance, if you’re taking immunotherapy drugs known as VEGF inhibitors, you may need daily monitoring during your first cycle of cancer therapy and every time you increase your dose.

After that, you may be able to monitor it only every two to three weeks. You may also need to monitor it weekly for four to six weeks after you stop the treatment.

If you already have high blood pressure or other risk factors, your monitoring schedule may be different. Always follow your oncologist’s directions for when and how to monitor blood pressure.

Monitoring Blood Pressure Accurately at Home

Monitoring blood pressure at home is the most convenient choice for many people, but it’s important to make sure you do it accurately.

Choosing a Blood Pressure Monitor

When it comes to monitoring your blood pressure at home, it’s important to get a blood pressure monitor that’s accurate and easy to use correctly. Ask your cancer care team for recommendations. They may have a specific monitor they’d like you to use.

Otherwise, choose a monitor that’s automatic and that goes around your upper bicep. Monitors that go on your wrist or your finger aren’t as reliable.

You’ll also need a monitor that’s validated. You can ask your doctor about this or check online for the specific make and model on the American Medical Association’s Validated Device Listing site. Makes sure the monitor you choose is validated for your age.

You also need to make sure the blood pressure cuff you get fits your arm. Measure around the widest part of your bicep. Then, check your monitor to make sure the cuff will fit your arm.

Before you start monitoring your blood pressure at home, take your blood pressure monitor with you to an appointment with your healthcare provider. They can make sure you’re using it correctly and that you’re getting the same results as they get in the office.

Tips for Accurate Blood Pressure Measurement

Here are some tips from the American Heart Association for getting accurate blood pressure results at home:

• Don’t smoke, exercise within 30 minutes, or drink caffeine before you take your blood pressure, as these can all cause it to go up.
• Pee before you take your reading.
• Rest quietly for five minutes before you measure your blood pressure.
• Take your arm out of your sleeve before measuring so you can put the cuff against your bare skin and without any extra pressure. Don’t just roll up your sleeve.
• Make sure your arm is supported on a flat surface at heart level. Don’t let it droop.
• Support your back before and during the reading, and keep your feet flat on the floor. Don’t cross your legs.
• Put the middle of the cuff at heart level and the bottom of it just above your elbow crease.
• Take multiple readings for the best accuracy.
• Record all of your readings, and write down the day and time that you took them.
• Always take your blood pressure at the same time of day.
• Don’t talk while measuring your blood pressure.

What Does Your Doctor Need To Know About Blood Pressure?

Before you start monitoring your blood pressure at home, talk to your doctor about what kinds of changes they want to know about. They may want to know if the top number (systolic blood pressure) or bottom number (diastolic blood pressure) goes above a specific number, or if your results change suddenly.

You should also ask how they want you to communicate with them. This may involve calling, emailing, or using an app or online healthcare portal to get in touch with your doctor.

If your blood pressure changes are concerning, you and your doctor may need to weigh the benefits of your current cancer treatment plan against the higher risks. They may recommend treating the blood pressure separately, or suggest a change to your kidney cancer treatment options. Work closely with your cancer care team to ensure you have the best outcome.

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