Cytoreductive nephrectomy

Cytoreductive nephrectomy is a surgery to remove a kidney that has cancer, even when the cancer has already spread to other parts of the body. The goal is not to cure the cancer, but to remove as much of the tumour as possible. This can help with symptoms, slow down the cancer, or make other treatments work better.

Talk to your doctor to see if this is the right choice for you based on your health and how far the cancer has spread.

How it’s done

• You will be asleep during the surgery with general anaesthesia, so you won’t feel anything. 
• Depending on where the tumour is and how big it is, you will lie on your side or back during the procedure. 
• Cytoreductive nephrectomy is normally done as an open surgery, which means that the doctor makes a single cut (incision) to get to your kidney. 
• First, the doctor will check the size of the tumour and see if it has spread to nearby tissues or organs.
• To remove the kidney safely and keep cancer cells from spreading, the doctor keeps it covered with your kidney’s natural fat layer. They then carefully cut the tubes attached to the kidney before taking it out. 

Last updated: February 2025