Hello, and thanks for your post

I'm sorry to read about your husband's situation. This must be an incredibly difficult time for you both.

When kidney cancer spreads to the lungs, surgery isn't always the best option. This is usually because the cancer may be too widespread or in tricky spots that make surgery risky or unlikely to help long term. Often, there is a better chance of controlling the cancer with newer types of treatment, like immunotherapy or targeted drugs. These aim to slow down the spread and manage the cancer.

The team looking after your husband will explain more at this appointment on Wednesday, and they'll likely discuss his treatment plan.

I appreciate that you want to know more about his prognosis. This is really a question best answered by his specialist team. This is because they are familiar with all his medical details and will know so much more about his individual situation. Doctors base their assessment of someone's outlook/prognosis on their experience of looking after other patients with the same cancer. This will vary to a degree, depending on a person’s age, type and extent of their cancer, their general health and their response to cancer treatments.

Doctors are usually happy to speak to relatives, provided they have the patient's consent to do so.

On our website, we have information about supporting someone with cancer both emotionally and practically The charity Macmillan Cancer Support has some further information on their website. It's important that you all look after yourselves. Macmillan also has information on looking after yourself and how to access support..

I’m not sure if your husband is being supported at home by a community palliative care team, often they are known as Macmillan nurses. They are experts in controlling cancer symptoms and can provide emotional support to you both. If he doesn't have a palliative care team involved in his care, he could ask his GP or hospital team to refer him.  You might also find it helpful to read our information about the support that is available to people at home with kidney cancer on our website.

I hope this is of some use.Give us a ring if you would like to talk anything over. The number to call is Freephone 0808 800 4040 and the lines are open from 9am till 5pm Monday to Friday.

Kind regards,

Celene