PROS

• If you are not a candidate for transplant, it will keep you alive
• Cleans your blood

CONS

• Compared to transplant, don’t live as long on average
• May have lower quality of life
• Time spent doing dialysis
• Diet restriction
• Catheter or fistula needed

PROS

• Better survival rate compared to dialysis if you are a candidate
• Better quality of life
• More time for daily activities
• Fewer diet restrictions

CONS

• Can be hard to find living donors
• Surgery
• Must take medications every day
• Insurance coverage for medications may vary
• Lifelong labs and follow up needed