After you have had your operation, you will be able to discuss a follow-up care plan with your medical team. You will be monitored for signs that the cancer has come back (recurrence), or spread of the cancer to other parts of the body.

The frequency of your follow-up visits will depend on whether you had any complications during your surgery, how well your remaining kidney is working, and the risk of recurrence or spread of the cancer. Generally, people have follow-up visits at 6 months and 1 year after surgery, and then annually for at least 3 years.

If you are at low risk of cancer spread or recurrence, you should have an ultrasound scan or chest X-ray, and blood tests to check kidney function at each visit. If you are at intermediate or high risk of cancer spread or recurrence, you should have a CT scan and blood tests at each visit. Patients with an intermediate or high risk of cancer spread or recurrence, or those with complications after their operation may be seen more frequently.