Could people with renal tumors have radiation or chemo before surgery?

No: Best approach for a relatively large renal tumor is surgical nephrectomy. With two kidneys there is no problem. With smaller tumors a partial nephrectomy can be performed. If very large and question of margins RT can be employed and if distant spread, then chemo which is now very effective can be employed

Yes: Now if surgery can be done, there is a survival advantage. Rarely do radiation before surgery. There is some data out of MD Anderson using pazopanib prior to surgery. But if surgery can be done, data says do that first. If cancer has not spread yet, definitely do surgery! No data with medication first in operable non metastatic renal cancer. Hope this helps.