Living with kidney disease can be challenging and overwhelming at times as you navigate the major lifestyle changes, complex medical decisions, and multiple medications that come with kidney failure.
Generally speaking, there are three main treatments if your kidney failure is permanent; dialysis, a deceased donor transplant or a living donor transplant.
Treatment Type
Pros
Cons
Dialysis
Allows you to live without functioning kidneys
Preserves your life while you look for a donor
High mortality rate: 1 year: 75-80% survival rate
5 years: 35% survival rate
Deceased Donor Transplant
Dialysis is no longer required
Lower risk of death than on dialysis
Better quality of life than on dialysis
Fewer dietary restriction than on dialysis
Donors are often older and may not be in the best of health
Constantly on call—transplants happen with no warning
Average wait time is 3-10 years
Kidney life of 10-15 years
Living Donor Transplant
Less time on a waitlist and less time on dialysis
Donor goes through extensive health testing
Better outcomes
Less medication
Lower mortality rates
Last twice as long as deceased donor kidneys (20-40 years)
Surgery is a challenge for those not in good health
Requires searching for a donor
Involves someone else (often a loved one) undergoing surgery
