HOW TO MANAGE KIDNEY CANCER TREATMENT SIDE EFFECTS
ON THIS PAGE
- Early Communication
- Digestive Side Effects
- Cancer Fatigue
- Skin and Hair Changes
- High Blood Pressure
Side effects fromkidney cancer treatment can vary from person to person. Some people have few adverse effects from medications, while others experience symptoms that have a greater impact on their daily lives.
The cancer treatment side effects you may have depend on the type of treatment, the dose, and how your body responds to therapy.
While side effects such as digestive issues, fatigue, and skin and hair changes can be uncomfortable and frustrating, there are ways to manage and even prevent some of them, especially when you recognize them early.
Notifying Your Care Team Early
Even if your care team tells you what to look out for, it can be challenging to know whether a side effect is serious. Something that seems minor could turn into a bigger problem, and figuring out which is which shouldnt fall on you or your family, says David A. Braun, MD, a medical oncologist who treats kidney cancers at Smilow Cancer Hospital at Yale New Haven in Connecticut and an assistant professor of medicine at Yale School of Medicine.
He encourages his patients to notify their care team early if a symptom appears, rather than waiting to see if it goes away. Always just call, and we can sort it out together, he says.
Theres another reason to speak up early: It can help you continue with treatment. Even the most effective treatment cant work as intended if side effects become so difficult that you have to stop taking it or keep interrupting treatment, Dr. Braun says.
Reporting side effects early gives your care team more opportunities to help. They may prescribe medications to relieve symptoms, adjust your dose, or tweak your schedule to help you better tolerate treatment.
Managing Digestive Side Effects
Though digestive symptoms like nausea, loss of appetite, diarrhea, and mouth sores are common side effects of kidney cancer treatment, they can often be managed with medications, dietary changes, and other strategies.
Nausea
Many people think nausea is an unavoidable part of cancer treatment that they simply have to accept. One of the biggest advances over the last few decades is not just in cancer treatment itself, but in how we treat side effects, says Braun.
Supportive care has come a long way, and there are now several antiemetic drugs (medications that can help prevent or treat nausea). If one doesnt work, there are others to try, he says.
If you notice that a treatment causes nausea almost every time you take it, dont wait until symptoms begin. Braun recommends talking with your healthcare team about taking an antiemetic beforehand to help prevent nausea from developing.
The strategies below can also help:
- Eat smaller meals throughout the day, instead of three large ones, since an empty stomach can make nausea worse.
- Choose bland foods that are easy on your stomach, such as crackers, toast, clear broth, or plain yogurt.
- Sip liquids slowly throughout the day. Cold, clear liquids like ginger ale, broth, or tea may be easiest to handle.
- Avoid fried, greasy, or spicy foods, and eat foods cool or at room temperature so their smell isnt as strong.
- Rest while sitting upright for at least an hour after each meal.
If youre vomiting, take your nausea medication at the first hint of queasiness, and wait until the vomiting stops before eating or drinking. Then start with small sips of clear liquids, or try ice chips, and increase slowly as youre able.
Loss of Appetite
Another common side effect of kidney cancer treatment is loss of appetite. It can happen because of the tumor or because targeted therapies called tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) can reduce your appetite or change the way foods taste, making eating less appealing, Braun says. Some people find that foods taste metallic or less flavorful. Even if you dont feel hungry, its important to get enough calories, protein, and fluids to help your body maintain its strength and weight during treatment.
Yet, when you have no appetite, a full plate can feel defeating, says Alison Tierney, RD, founder of Wholesome LLC, a telehealth nutrition practice supporting people through cancer treatment and survivorship, based in Oconomowoc, Wisconsin.
Rather than trying to eat three large meals, she recommends having something nourishing every two to three hours and eating on a schedule. This may mean setting a reminder on your phone, especially if treatment has dulled your hunger cues.
Make those bites count, Tierney says, by choosing foods that provide plenty of protein and calories in a small amount, such as:
- Smoothies with nut butter and ground flaxseed
- Hummus with soft pita
- Oatmeal made with soy milk
- Avocado on toast
- Bean-based soups
Fluids are also important, but sip them throughout the day, instead of drinking large amounts at once. Water is ideal, but broth, herbal tea, diluted juice, and water-rich fruits such as melon can also help keep you hydrated, Tierney says. If plain water isnt appealing to you, try adding slices of citrus or cucumber, or frozen fruit for flavor.
Diarrhea
Changes in your bowel habits are common side effects of kidney cancer treatment, particularly with TKIs and immunotherapy. Many people develop diarrhea, though for some, its constipation instead, Braun says.
There are effective medications that can help manage diarrhea, so if the first doesnt work, another might, he notes. An over-the-counter antidiarrheal such as loperamide (Imodium A-D) may be appropriate for some people, but dont start taking it without first checking with your care team.
In some cases, diarrhea can be caused by an infection that requires an antibiotic or inflammation in the colon, especially with immunotherapy, which may require steroids. Your healthcare team can help determine the cause and make treatment recommendations.
Once you start treating diarrhea, the goal is to avoid overcorrecting. Braun says if a medication relieves diarrhea but causes constipation, notify your care team who can help fine-tune your treatment schedule or dosage, so that youre not swinging from one problem to the other.
What you eat and drink can also help manage diarrhea. Tierney suggests the following dietary adjustments:
- Choose foods with soluble fiber, which helps firm up stools, such as oats, bananas, applesauce, peeled potatoes, and white rice.
- Drink fluids and replace electrolytes throughout the day to help prevent dehydration.
- Cut back on caffeine, sugar alcohols (sweeteners found in sugar-free gum, candy, and other diet products, often listed as sorbitol, xylitol, or mannitol), and very high-fat foods, including fried foods, pizza, and creamy sauces.
Notify your care team right away if diarrhea lasts more than 24 hours or you notice signs of dehydration, such as dizziness or feeling unusually weak. Also look out for dark urine. These side effects are especially relevant if youre taking targeted therapies, where diarrhea can be significant and may mean your dose needs adjusting, Tierney says.
Mouth Sores
While they can be uncomfortable and make it difficult to eat, drink, and sometimes maintain your weight, mouth sores are often manageable.
Braun recommends starting with a baking soda rinse or a saltwater rinse to soothe irritation. One commonly used recipe is to mix one-quarter teaspoon of baking soda and one-eighth teaspoon of salt into one cup (8 ounces) of warm water, swish it around your mouth for about 30 seconds, then spit it out. Repeat about four times a day, or as recommended by your cancer care team. Recipes vary, so ask your nurse or healthcare team to write down what they prefer.
If the sores are getting in the way of eating, ask your care team about magic mouthwash, Braun says. This prescription rinse helps numb the sores to make eating more comfortable, and you can use it about 30 minutes before meals. For some treatments, a prescription steroid mouth rinse may also help reduce inflammation if other measures arent helpful, he notes.
Tierney also recommends choosing soft, moist foods, such as:
- Smoothies
- Oatmeal
- Mashed potatoes
- Yogurt
- Blended soups
Avoid acidic, spicy, salty, crunchy, or very hot foods, and skip alcohol-based mouthwashes because they can worsen irritation. Drinking through a straw may also help direct liquids away from sore areas, she says.
Coping With Cancer Fatigue
Many people describe the fatigue that occurs with cancer treatment as unlike anything theyve experienced before. Its more than feeling tired after a busy day, and a good nights sleep doesnt always make it better. Kidney cancer treatments, especially TKIs and immunotherapy, can contribute to this kind of fatigue.
With fatigue, your total amount of energy is often less than what youre used to, and Braun recommends thinking a little more consciously about how youre going to use it wisely. He suggests these tips for budgeting your energy:
- Spend your energy on what matters most. Decide which activities are worth your energy, and let the other stuff wait.
- Plan around the big days. If you have an important event on Saturday, for example, schedule lighter activities on Friday, so that you have enough energy when Saturday comes.
- Keep moving, even a little. Modest activity, such as a short walk, can break the cycle of becoming less active and feeling even more tired.
Soothing Skin and Hair Changes
Other side effects you may notice with kidney cancer treatment are skin and hair changes.
Most of these are manageable, and some can be prevented.
Hand-Foot Skin Reaction
This side effect, which impacts the palms of your hands and the soles of your feet, is common with TKIs. You may notice tingling, burning, or numbness usually within the first few weeks of treatment, then redness, swelling, and painful, thickened areas of skin where theres pressure or friction. Walking may be difficult if it becomes severe.
Getting ahead of hand-foot skin reaction is especially important, says Braun, who recommends the following tips:
- Use a moisturizing cream containing 20 percent urea. You can find these over the counter in the moisturizing skin-care or foot-care section of most pharmacies. Apply it twice a day to help soften thickened skin and reduce callus buildup.
- Wear shoes that dont rub. Shoes that pinch or repeatedly rub the same spots on your feet can make hand-foot skin reactions worse. Choose comfortable, well-cushioned shoes that reduce pressure and friction.
Still, notify your healthcare team if you start noticing these symptoms. Braun says that prescription steroid creams and other medications may help, and your healthcare team can adjust your cancer treatment if needed.
Other Skin Changes
Some people notice that their skin becomes dry, rough, flaky, or itchy during kidney cancer treatment. You may also develop cracks on your fingertips or heels. To help manage these changes, try these tips:
- Use a thick cream or ointment, and apply it right after bathing, while your skin is still damp.
- Take short, lukewarm showers, instead of long, hot ones.
- Wash with a gentle, fragrance-free cleanser.
Rashes are another common skin reaction to TKIs and immunotherapy. These medications can cause different types of rashes, and each may require a different approach, such as steroid creams, anti-itch medications, or changes to your treatment. Let your healthcare team know if rashes develop, rather than trying to treat them yourself.
Also, notify your care team right away if a rash blisters, peels, is accompanied by a fever or skin pain, spreads over a large area of your body, or develops along with sores in your mouth or swollen, painful eyes.These can be signs of a serious skin reaction, called Stevens-Johnson syndrome, that needs prompt evaluation and treatment.
If youre taking sunitinib (Sutent), a TKI, your skin may develop a yellowish tint and your urine may turn yellow.The medication itself is yellow, and the color change is harmless and goes away after treatment. This is sometimes mistaken for jaundice, a condition that can be a sign of liver problems, but still let your care team know if you notice it.
Hair Changes
Many people expect kidney cancer treatment to cause the same kind of hair loss that can occur with chemotherapy. Braun says that hair loss is much less common with kidney cancer treatment, though some people do get thinning of the hair with targeted therapies.
Some targeted therapies can also cause graying of the hair, though Braun says thats something he sees less often now than in the past. These color changes are generally temporary, and the hair often starts returning to its original color within weeks of stopping the medication.
If you notice changes to your hair during treatment, mention them during your next medical appointment. While they can be upsetting, theyre usually harmless, and your care team can confirm whether theyre related to your treatment.
Monitoring High Blood Pressure
Unlike many side effects, high blood pressure a common side effect of TKIs doesnt always cause symptoms.
Braun recommends monitoring blood pressure at home to help catch changes early and address any issues. Ask your healthcare team how often you should check your blood pressure, what range theyre aiming for, and when they want you to notify them. Its a good idea to document your blood pressure readings to identify any trends, and to call your care team if your blood pressure readings are outside the range they gave you.
If your blood pressure increases, it doesnt necessarily mean youll have to stop treatment. Your oncologist may prescribe or modify your current blood pressure medication or adjust your treatment plan.
Call 911 if your blood pressure is 180/120 millimeters of mercury (mmHg) or higher and you develop severe headache, dizziness, vision changes, or slurred speech. This could be symptoms of a hypertensive emergency, a life-threatening condition that needs immediate treatment.
The Takeaway
- Notify your care team as soon as any new kidney cancer treatment side effect appears, rather than waiting or trying to figure out if its serious on your own.
- Digestive side effects such as nausea, loss of appetite, diarrhea, and mouth sores can be managed with medications and dietary changes. Call your care team right away if diarrhea lasts more than 24 hours or if you have signs of dehydration.
- To manage fatigue caused by kidney cancer treatment, budget your energy and stay as active as you can. Skin changes, hair changes, and high blood pressure are often manageable when theyre recognized early, but notify your care team immediately if you have blisters and sores on the skin along with fever and mouth sores, which can be signs of a serious reaction.
Resources We Trust
Share
Share on FacebookShare on XShare on Pinterest
Copy Link
- Cleveland Clinic: Cancer Fatigue
- Mayo Clinic: Mouth Sores Caused by Cancer Treatment: How to Cope
- National Cancer Institute: Nausea and Vomiting and Cancer Treatment
- Kidney Cancer Association: Treatment Options
- National Kidney Foundation: Kidney Cancer: Treatment and Living Well
EDITORIAL SOURCES
Everyday Health follows strict sourcing guidelines to ensure the accuracy of its content, outlined in our editorial policy. We use only trustworthy sources, including peer-reviewed studies, board-certified medical experts, patients with lived experience, and information from top institutions.
SourcesResources
- Targeted Drug Therapy for Kidney Cancer. American Cancer Society. June 25, 2026.
- Basch E et al. Symptom Monitoring With Electronic Patient-Reported Outcomes During Cancer Treatment: Final Results of the PRO-TECT Cluster-Randomized Trial. Nature Medicine. February 7, 2025.
- McGregor B et al. Management of Adverse Events Associated With Cabozantinib Plus Nivolumab in Renal Cell Carcinoma: A Review. Cancer Treatment Reviews. February 2022.
- Shyam Sunder S et al. Adverse Effects of Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors in Cancer Therapy: Pathophysiology, Mechanisms and Clinical Management. Signal Transduction and Targeted Therapy. July 7, 2023.
- Nausea and Vomiting Related to Cancer Treatment (PDQ) Health Professional Version. National Cancer Institute. March 10, 2025.
- Managing Nausea and Vomiting at Home. American Cancer Society. June 26, 2024.
- Oncology Pharmacist Explains Kidney Cancer Side Effect Management. Kidney Cancer Association. January 20, 2026.
- Loss of Appetite (Anorexia) and Cachexia. American Cancer Society. April 30, 2025.
- Loss of Appetite. Cleveland Clinic. October 3, 2022.
- Diarrhea. American Cancer Society. April 23, 2024.
- Dehydration and Lack of Fluids. American Cancer Society. June 26, 2024.
- Mouth Soreness and Pain. American Cancer Society. October 28, 2024.
- Mouth and Throat Soreness. Cedars Sinai.
- Magic Mouthwash: Effective for Chemotherapy Mouth Sores? Mayo Clinic. December 25, 2025.
- Cancer-Related Fatigue. American Cancer Society. July 16, 2024.
- Wood LS et al. Safety and Adverse Event Management of VEGFR-TKIs in Patients With Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma. Clinical Journal of Oncology Nursing. June 2025.
- Chen J et al. Hand-Foot Skin Reaction Associated With Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors: A FAERS-Based Pharmacovigilance Study. Frontiers in Medicine. June 3, 2026.
- Hand-Foot Syndrome. Cleveland Clinic. May 27, 2026.
- Skin and Nail Changes During Cancer Treatment. National Cancer Institute. December 29, 2022.
- Stevens-Johnson Syndrome. Cleveland Clinic. December 18, 2020.
- Schneider BJ et al . Management of Immune-Related Adverse Events in Patients Treated With Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor Therapy: ASCO Guideline Update. Journal of Clinical Oncology . November 1, 2021.
- Sunitinib. MedlinePlus. February 15, 2022.
- Perez SM et al. Drug-Induced Hair Pigmentation: Clinical Perspectives and Updates. Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology Reviews. March 2025.
- Weinfeld JM et al. Home Blood Pressure Monitoring. American Family Physician. September 2021.
- Hypertensive Crisis. Cleveland Clinic. April 1, 2026.
Meet Our Experts
Tingting Tan, MD, PhD
Medical Reviewer
Tingting Tan, MD, PhD, is a medical oncologist at City of Hope National Medical Center.
Dr. Tan's research has been published in multiple medical and scientific journals, including...
Maggie Aime, MSN, RN
Author
Maggie Aime is a registered nurse with over 25 years of healthcare experience, who brings medical topics to life through informative and inspiring content. Her extensive nursing ba...
Sign up for our Cancer Care Newsletter!
Enter your email
Subscribe
By subscribing you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
