Kidney cancer (also called renal cancer) develops when abnormal cells in either of the kidneys begin to divide and grow in an uncontrolled way.
The kidneys are part of the urinary system. They are 2 bean-shaped approximately 5-inches long organs near the middle of the back, responsible for filtering the blood to remove excess water and waste products. These are then made into urine (pee).
Kidney cancer often only affect one kidney. It is very uncommon for cancer to be in both kidneys.
Often people diagnosed with kidney cancer do not experience any symptoms. The cancer is usually diagnosed when testing for something else.
When symptoms of kidney cancer occur however, most common can include:
- blood in the urine
- a lump or swelling in the back, under the ribs, or in the neck
- pain between the ribs and waist that does not go away
- loss of appetite or losing weight without trying to
- feeling tired or having no energy
There are different types of kidney cancer, however the majority of them are the renal cell cancers (RCC). They start in the cortex of the kidney. The most common type of RCC is clear cell renal cancer.
Rarely, kidney cancer can start in the ureter and renal pelvis or spread to lymph nodes close to the kidney. Lymph nodes are part of the lymphatic system, which helps protect the body from infection and disease.
Other, rare types of kidney cancer include:
- papillary renal cell cancer
- chromophobe renal cell cancer
- collecting duct cancer (CDC)
- transitional cell carcinoma
- renal sarcoma
Treatment for kidney cancer at CUH
The treatment you have depends on several factors, which include:
- the type and size of the cancer
- where the cancer is located
- how well your kidneys work
- your general health
A team of specialists at CUH will meet to discuss your condition and to make a recommendation about the best possible treatment for you.
You, along with your clinician, will then discuss your treatment recommendations at the clinic appointment and decide on the right treatment plan for you. Your clinician will explain the different treatment options and possible side effects.
The treatment for kidney cancer can include:
- surgery: partial or radical (total) removal of the kidney (nephrectomy)
- ablation: intervention destroying cancer using microwave, cryo -or radiofrequent energy
- stereotactic radiotherapy: high doses of radiotherapy targeting the cancer
- systemic therapy: targeted therapy and/or immunotherapy
- active surveillance: monitoring with intention to treat if required
- watchful waiting: monitoring
At times, you may require more than one treatment or a combination of different treatments to give the best chance of long-term cure and to help reduce the risk of the cancer coming back.
Read more about the different types of treatment on our website.