Chemotherapy isn’t commonly used to treat kidney cancer. In some cases, though, it may help treat the cancer itself or ease symptoms. Whether your care team recommends chemotherapy depends on the type and stage of your cancer, as well as your treatment goals.

Some MyKidneyCancerTeam members have shared their experiences with chemotherapy. “Today will be two months since I’m back working after three months of being unable to work,” one member said. “No pain from the cancer or side effects from my chemotherapy pill. Feeling good.”

Keep reading to learn when kidney cancer chemotherapy may be used, what the side effects may be, and why your doctor might recommend it.

What Is Chemotherapy?

Often called chemo, chemotherapy uses medications to treat many types of cancer. It’s typically given through an IV line or taken orally (by mouth). In some cases, chemotherapy is given as an injection.

Chemotherapy may be used before surgery to shrink tumors (neoadjuvant chemotherapy). It may also be used after surgery to destroy any remaining cancer cells (adjuvant chemotherapy). Chemotherapy can also be used on its own to treat cancer or ease symptoms.

Chemotherapy is a type of systemic treatment — it treats cancer cells throughout all parts of the body. Because it affects the whole body, chemotherapy can also harm some healthy cells and lead to side effects such as hair loss, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, mouth sores, and fatigue.

These side effects usually go away after treatment ends. If your doctor recommends chemotherapy for kidney cancer, they can share ways to help prevent or manage side effects.

Chemotherapy for Kidney Cancer

Although some cancers respond well to chemotherapy, most kidney cancers — including the most common type, renal cell carcinoma (RCC) — do not. Instead, surgery and newer treatments, such as immunotherapy and targeted therapy, are more often used.

However, chemotherapy may be used to treat less common types of kidney cancer or for later-stage (advanced) disease in some people. It may also be used in clinical trials.

Whether your doctor recommends chemotherapy depends on several factors, including your type of kidney cancer, your cancer stage, and any treatments you’ve already tried.

Chemotherapy for Less Common Kidney Cancers

Although chemotherapy isn’t often used for RCC, it may help other, less common types of kidney cancer. If you receive a kidney cancer diagnosis, your doctor can tell you whether chemotherapy might be an option for your specific type.

Renal Medullary Carcinoma

Renal medullary carcinoma (RMC) is a rare and aggressive cancer that starts in the inner part of the kidney, called the renal medulla. RMC almost always affects people who have sickle cell disease or sickle cell trait, and this cancer has usually spread by the time it’s diagnosed.

There’s no cure for RMC, but chemotherapy is often used to help control the disease. If chemotherapy shrinks the tumor, surgery may become an option.

Collecting Duct Carcinoma

Collecting duct (Bellini duct) RCC is another rare, aggressive type of kidney cancer. It’s often not found until a later stage. About half of the cases are diagnosed at stage 4.

Chemotherapy may slow the cancer’s growth. It may be used along with a nephrectomy (a type of surgery to remove the kidney) or with radiation therapy.

Wilms Tumor

Wilms tumors (also called nephroblastoma), the most common type of kidney cancer in children, usually affect just one kidney. Wilms tumors can occur at any age, but it’s rare in adults. The average age at diagnosis is 3 to 4 years.

Chemotherapy is often used to treat Wilms tumor, sometimes along with surgery and radiation therapy. These treatments are very effective — about 90 percent of children with Wilms tumor are cured.

Chemotherapy for Kidney Cancer in Advanced Stages

In advanced-stage kidney cancer, the cancer has metastasized (spread) beyond the kidney. This is also called metastatic cancer.

In advanced RCC, cancer may have spread to nearby tissue, lymph nodes, or other organs, and chemotherapy may be part of the treatment plan.

Your doctor may recommend IV or oral chemotherapy for kidney cancer if it’s advanced. Chemotherapy is more likely to be used after trying other treatments, such as immunotherapy or targeted therapy.

Some doctors may combine chemotherapy with other treatments for stage 3 kidney cancer. For stage 4 kidney cancer, chemotherapy may be used as palliative care. This means it’s used to ease symptoms and improve quality of life, even if it isn’t expected to slow the cancer’s growth.

Chemotherapy in Kidney Cancer Clinical Trials

Some people living with kidney cancer join clinical trials. These cancer research studies test new treatments and look for better ways to manage side effects and improve quality of life.

Researchers may study certain types of chemotherapy in clinical trials for kidney cancer. Clinical trials aren’t right for everyone, but they may give access to new therapies that aren’t widely available yet. Talk with your doctor if you’d like to know more about clinical trials for kidney cancer.

Partnering With Your Cancer Care Team

It’s important to work closely with your kidney cancer care team when discussing your treatment options. Your team may include a nephrologist (kidney specialist), an oncologist (cancer specialist), and other healthcare professionals. Together, you can choose a treatment plan that fits your goals, overall health, and preferences.

Shared decision-making means you and your cancer care team make choices together. You’ll weigh the risks and benefits of each option based on your goals. This approach can help you feel more involved in your cancer care and may help ease anxiety.

Join the Conversation

On MyKidneyCancerTeam, people share their experience with kidney cancer, get advice, and find support from others who understand.

Have you used kidney cancer chemo drugs as part of your treatment regimen? Let others know in the comments below.