Is a Kidney Cancer Vaccine Right for You?

Welcome to KidneyCancerVaccine.com, a site specially designed to bring you information about kidney cancer, treatment options and research studies—including a clinical trial of an experimental kidney cancer vaccine treatment.

Is a kidney cancer vaccine right for you? Only your doctor can answer that question. But being informed can help you and your doctor make the best decisions to manage what lies ahead.

To continue, click on one of the links below or find answers to specific questions.

• The basics of kidney cancer
• Current treatments
• About research studies
• Research study of Oncophage, an investigational, personalized cancer vaccine

The material on this website is adapted from an educational brochure that is available in printed format:

Understanding Kidney Cancer A brochure for patients and their families explaining what kidney cancer is, how it is evaluated, and current treatments available. It also addresses your surgery and how you may feel afterwards. Download PDF version

Frequently Asked Questions

Understanding Kidney Cancer

• What is kidney cancer?
• How many people get kidney cancer?
• What causes kidney cancer?
• How is kidney cancer diagnosed?
• What is cancer staging?

Treatment Options for Kidney Cancer

• How is kidney cancer treated?
• What is a nephrectomy?
• Is surgery a cure for kidney cancer?
• How long will it take to recover from surgery?
• Can I survive without a kidney?
• Will I need follow-up care or treatment like chemotherapy or radiation?
• Will I be back to normal after the surgery?
• Is it normal to feel anxious and scared?

Understanding Clinical Trials

• What is a clinical trial?
• What is a protocol?
• What are clinical trial phases?
• What protections are there for people who participate in clinical trials?
• What is informed consent?
• Who can participate in a clinical trial?
• Who sponsors research studies?
• What happens during a clinical trial?
• What is a control or control group?
• What are side effects and adverse reactions?
• What are the benefits and risks associated with clinical trials?
• Can I leave a clinical trial after it has begun?

Oncophage Personalized Cancer Vaccine

• What is Oncophage?
• How does Oncophage work?
• What’s the difference between Oncophage and other treatments?
• Why is Oncophage being studied?
• How many people have used Oncophage?
• What are the side effects of Oncophage treatment?
• What will the Oncophage study be testing?
• Am I eligible for the research study with Oncophage?
• If I enroll in the study, will I definitely receive Oncophage?
• What is treatment with Oncophage like?
• Will using Oncophage guarantee that my cancer won’t return?
• Will my insurance cover the cost of participating in the research study?
• How do I enroll in the study?