Frimley Renal Cancer Centre (FRCC)

NHS England commissioned Frimley Renal Cancer Centre (FRCC) to provide specialist treatment for kidney cancer across parts of Surrey, Hampshire and Sussex. FRCC accepts referrals from other hospitals outside our cancer network for second opinion or specialised treatment.

At FRCC, we provide a world-class, patient-centred approach to kidney cancer care. Our aim is to offer state-of-the-art treatment options to patients in Surrey, Hampshire, Sussex and beyond.

FRCC has established a national reputation for excellence in the management of renal cancer. We are at the forefront of modern kidney cancer treatment, utilising cutting-edge care techniques and advanced technology to ensure optimal outcomes for patients.

Our unit performs over 350 renal cancer cases annually, making us one of the highest-volume centres in the UK. We are particularly renowned for:

Retroperitoneal robotic partial nephrectomy
Retroperitoneal robotic and laparoscopic kidney surgery

Our median length of stay in hospital is the shortest in the country (median: 1 day)

We utilise two state-of-the-art robotic systems, the da Vinci Xi (Intuitive Surgical) and CMR, paired with advanced technologies such as:
• Drop-in intraoperative ultrasound scan
• ICG (indocyanine green) imaging for precise surgical guidance for complex renal surgery

As well as serving patients, in Kent, Surrey and Sussex, we also accept referrals from other hospitals nationwide for:

Second opinions
Specialised surgical or radiological treatments

3 dedicated robotic consultants
2 visiting consultant urologists
2 specialised kidney cancer nurses
Renal cancer fellows and uro-radiologists

Together, we run a weekly regional specialist renal cancer multidisciplinary team (MDT) meeting to discuss all patients with suspected kidney cancer. Our MDT ensures that every patient receives personalised care tailored to their specific needs, including tumour size and location.

Diagnosis
Surgical and radiological treatment
Active surveillance or follow-up care after treatment

FRCC offers a dedicated robotic fellowship for post-CCT trainees. This fellowship is recognised by the Royal College of Surgeons (RCS) and provides advanced training in robotic surgical techniques, enhancing the skills of future leaders in kidney surgery.

FRCC has close ties with the academic department of medical oncology at The University of Surrey and St Luke's Cancer Centre in Guildford.

At the FRCC we use state-of-the-art technology to offer you the best treatment for your cancer.

Surgery

We offer the following surgical treatments:

Robotic assisted partial nephrectomy (nephron spring surgery)
Laparoscopic radical nephrectomy
Robotic assisted nephroureterectomy
Open radical nephrectomy

Once your case has been discussed at our MDT. We recommend to you the best surgical management for kidney cancer.

Cryotherapy

This technique uses small freezing needles to kill cancer cells. It can cure small renal cancer (typically < 3cm).

Percutaneous cryotherapy is performed with help of CT scan. Small needles are inserted through your skin with the guidance of CT scan.

Active surveillance

Small renal masses are generally very slow growing tumours. Active surveillance is proven to be a valid strategy in patients for whom the risks of surgical treatments outweigh the benefits of treating small renal masses.

If MDT recommends active surveillance for your tumour. You will receive regular scans and follow-up appointments.