Ask the expert

Share this page:

During this series of videos, experts in the treatment and care of kidney cancer patients answer your questions.

Disclaimer: All editorial control was retained by Action Kidney Cancer and the sponsors had no influence over the content of these videos. These videos provide general information only, and none of the information shall be deemed to constitute medical advice in any way. You should seek appropriate medical advice or guidance from your oncologist or health care team in relation to any medical condition.

These videos were produced with support from Eisai, Ipsen, the Merck-Pfizer alliance and MSD who had no input into their content or development. The content of this website was also made possible using the knowledge, experience and kind donations from our community and our fundraisers.

Ask the expert: Counselling during and beyond treatment for kidney cancer

In this video interview, Steven Pointon talks with Christine Jackson, Person Centred Counsellor, about how person-centred counselling can help a patient and their loved ones during and beyond kidney cancer treatment.

If you need help with anxiety, depression or fear, please take a look at our Help Sheet on Counselling.

Ask the expert: Clinical trials – Part 1

In this video interview, Sharon Deveson Kell talks with Professor Grant Stewart, a urological surgeon from Addenbrookes Hospital, Cambridge, about why new treatments are tested, what is a clinical trial and why are they run, what are the different phases of clinical trials, why are people with rare subtypes of kidney cancer, brain metastases or other conditions/diseases excluded from trials, and publishing of negative clinical trials.

For more information about clinical trials, please visit About clinical trials on our website here.

Ask the expert: Clinical trials – Part 2

In this video interview, Sharon Deveson Kell talks with Professor Grant Stewart, a urological surgeon from Addenbrookes Hospital, Cambridge, about involvement of patients and the public in the design of clinical trials, trials to compare treatments, and why there are not more hospitals running clinical trials in the UK.

For more information about clinical trials, please visit About clinical trials on our website here.

Ask the expert: Mental health in the workplace

In this presentation, Steve Pointon draws on his own experience of a diagnosis of advanced kidney cancer to talk about how employers can better look after the mental health of their employees when they are diagnosed with a chronic or life-threatening condition.

If you need help with anxiety, depression or fear, please take a look at our Help Sheet on Counselling. If you need legal or social welfare advice, please visit the websites on our Legal and social welfare advice page.

Ask the expert: Blood tests

This interview with Professor James Larkin, Medical Oncologist from the Royal Marsden NHS Trust describes the use of blood tests that are taken when kidney cancer is being diagnosed and during treatment.

For more information about laboratory tests for kidney cancer, please read our Essential Guide on diagnosis and tests for kidney cancer.

Ask the expert: Rehabilitation of kidney cancer patients following surgery

In this video interview, Karen McNee talks with Mr Steve Leung, consultant urological surgeon, and Lisa Dunbar, renal cancer nurse specialist, both from the Western General Hospital in Edinburgh, about the rehabilitation of kidney cancer patients following surgery to remove their tumour.

For more information about surgery for kidney cancer, please read our Essential Guide on surgery for kidney cancer.

Ask the expert: Diet and kidney cancer –        Part 1

In this video interview, Karen McNee talks with Bruno Malfrici, a Dietitian specialising in diets for people with kidney disease, about a healthy diet for people with kidney cancer.

For clarification and for anyone who is hard of hearing, we have outlined the main points of Bruno’s interview here: Diet and kidney cancer – part 1

Ask the expert: Diet and kidney cancer –        Part 2

In this video interview, Karen McNee continues her discussion with Bruno Malfrici, a Dietitian specialising in diets for people with kidney disease, about the benefits of various diets for people with kidney cancer.

For clarification and for anyone who is hard of hearing, we have outlined the main points of Bruno’s interview here: Diet and kidney cancer – part 2.

Ask the expert: Counselling following a diagnosis of kidney cancer

In this video interview, Steven Pointon talks with Christine Jackson, Person Centred Counsellor, about how person-centred counselling can help a patient and their loved ones following a diagnosis of kidney cancer.

If you need help with anxiety, depression or fear, please take a look at our Help Sheet on Counselling.

Ask the expert: The difference between palliative care, supportive care and end of life care

In this video interview, Dr Lynne Russon, Consultant in Palliative Care at St James’ Hospital in Leeds, describes the differences between palliative care, supportive care and end of life care, and when each intervention is given in the kidney cancer treatment pathway.

If you need help with anxiety, depression or fear, please take a look at our Help Sheet on Counselling.

Ask the expert: Diagnostic scans

During this interview with Professor James Larkin, Medical Oncologist from the Royal Marsden NHS Trust, he describes the diagnostic scans that are commonly used to diagnose kidney cancer.

For more information about the diagnosis of kidney cancer, please take a look at our Essential Guide on diagnosis and tests for kidney cancer.

Ask the expert: Clinical trials overview

In this video, Karen McNee talks to Lynn Ho, Uro-oncology Research Nurse at the Western General Hospital in Edinburgh about clinical trials, why they are needed, how to find out about clinical trials, and what happens on a clinical trial.

For more information about clinical trials visit About clinical trials on our website. To find a clinical trial near you visit our Clinical trials database.

Psychosocial help for kidney cancer patients

A Click & Chat session with Alison Manning, Person-centred Counsellor and Steve Pointon, Community Development, Action Kidney Cancer, talk about psychosocial help for kidney cancer patients.

Click & Chat nephrectomy special – Part 1
During this Click & Chat special, Mr Steve Leung, consultant urological surgeon from the Western General Hospital in Edinburgh answers your questions about radical versus partial nephrectomy and open versus laparoscopic nephrectomy.
Click & Chat nephrectomy special – Part 2

During this Click & Chat special, Mr Steve Leung, consultant urological surgeon from the Western General Hospital in Edinburgh talks about the follow-up after a nephrectomy operation, the tests that are carried out, what happens to the kidney, post-operative recovery, pathology reports and further treatment if needed.

World Kidney Cancer Day 2020 physical activity video

The World Kidney Cancer Day 2020 campaign was led by Dr Linda Trinh, a world leader on physical activity and cancer from the University of Toronto in Canada. In the following video, Dr Trinh talks about how physical activity can make a huge difference to both cancer prevention and improving treatment outcomes and quality of life for those who have it.

Get active, sit less

In this video, Dr Steve Bromage, consultant urological surgeon, and patients Lynne Ewart and Steve Pointon talk about the physical and psychological benefits of physical activity for kidney cancer patients.

Physical activity: The patient perspective

Julie Martin survived kidney cancer for 19 years. Julie was hugely grateful for the oncology, neurology and orthopaedic care she received during her journey, which was outstanding. Throughout this time, apart from when an inpatient, she kept extremely well. Listen to how physical activity helped her cope with her kidney cancer. Sadly, Julie, a valued member of our community, passed away in October 2021.

Share this page: