Problems after kidney cancer surgery

There is a risk of problems or complications after any operation. Many problems are minor but some can be life threatening. Treating them as soon as possible is important.

Your doctor talks through the possible risks before you sign the consent form to have the operation. 

Feeling tired and weak

Most people feel weak and lack strength for some time after their operation. How long this lasts can vary.

Starting to move about after surgery can be difficult, especially when you feel weak and tired. Try to move and exercise gradually. You might find it helps to set a goal every day.

Following a balanced diet will also help improve your energy levels.

Tell your doctor or nurse if the weakness continues for more than a few weeks. They can suggest things to help, such as physiotherapy.

Infections after kidney cancer surgery

You may have antibiotics to reduce the risk of developing an infection after having surgery for kidney cancer. This can depend on the type of surgery you are having.

Urine infection

Your doctor may give you antibiotics if you have an infection in your urine at the time of your operation, or afterwards. 

Chest infection

Chest infection is a common complication of many operations. It happens because you are not moving around enough, or breathing deeply enough after your surgery. What you would normally cough up stays in your lungs and becomes a focus for infection. You can help to prevent this by doing your deep breathing exercises. The physiotherapists and nurses will get you up as soon as possible to help you get moving.

Symptoms of infection

Tell your doctor or nurse if you have any symptoms of an infection. These include:

• a high temperature - also called a fever
• feeling generally unwell
• shivering
• feeling hot and cold
• feeling sick
• swelling or redness around your wound
• smelly or cloudy pee
• a cough

Blood clots

Blood clots (deep vein thrombosis, DVT) are a possible complication of having surgery because you might not move about as much as usual. Clots can block the normal flow of blood through the veins. Let your doctor or nurse know if you have an area in your leg that is swollen, hot, red or sore.

There is a risk that a blood clot can become loose and travel through the bloodstream to the lungs, causing a blockage there (a pulmonary embolism). Symptoms include:

• shortness of breath

• chest pain

• coughing up blood

• feeling dizzy or lightheaded

To prevent clots it's important to do the leg exercises that your nurse or physiotherapist taught you. Your nurse might also give you an injection just under the skin to help lower the risk whilst you are in hospital. You might need to carry on having these injections for 4 weeks, even after you go home. This depends on the type of operation you had.

Your nurse might teach you to do these injections yourself before you go home. Or a district nurse might come to your home to do them.

It's important to continue wearing compression stockings if you have been told to by your doctor.

Bleeding

There is a risk that you will bleed after your operation. The team looking after you will monitor you closely for signs of bleeding. The treatment you need depends on what is causing the bleeding and how much blood you lose. If you lose a lot of blood you might need a blood transfusion .

At home, if you think you look paler than normal, or you continue to feel tired, speak to your doctor or specialist nurse (CNS). They may arrange a blood test to see if your red blood cell level is low.  

Follow up appointments

You have follow up appointments to check your recovery and sort out any problems. They are also your opportunity to raise any concerns you have about your progress.

Tell your doctor or CNS if you’re worried or notice any new symptoms before your follow up appointment.