Kidney cancer
Kidney cancer, also called renal cancer, is a type of cancer that starts in the kidneys.
About Kidney cancer
Kidney cancer is usually diagnosed incidentally, when people are being investigated for other conditions. Symptoms can include blood in the urine, a dull ache in the back or it can be symptomless. It mainly affects men over the age of 65.
What to expect from your initial appointments
You will be referred for a CT scan, and then you will be able to discuss the results with a urology specialist who will advise on the treatment plan.
What to expect from diagnostic tests and investigations
CT scans
A CT scan takes a series of x-rays which build up a three-dimensional (3D) picture of the inside of the body. The scan usually takes five to 10 minutes. If kidney cancer is suspected then a CT scan will be done to investigate this and this will include the chest abdomen and pelvis to be able to check all of the organs that may be affected.
Ultrasound scan
Ultrasound scans use high frequency sound waves to create a picture of a part of the body. You might have an ultrasound scan of your abdomen.
MRI
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) uses magnetism and radio waves to create a cross sectional picture of the body.
Kidney biopsy
Your doctor might want to take a small piece of tissue from your kidney. The sample will then be sent to the laboratory to be looked at under a microscope. This is needed to confirm your cancer diagnosis.
Blood tests
may be taken to check the kidney function but there is not any blood test that will indicate kidney cancer is present. This is because there are not any tumour markers that have been identified to measure this.
Treatment options for Kidney cancer
Surgery
If your cancer hasn’t spread beyond the kidneys, surgery may completely cure your cancer. The aim of surgery is to remove the cancer in its entirety by taking out either:
- part of your kidney (partial nephrectomy) – when possible, to preserve function.
- the whole of your kidney (total nephrectomy) – when necessary to remove all cancer.
In the majority of cases the procedure will be performed as keyhole surgery. However, sometimes it is necessary for it to be done as an open procedure.
You may have chemotherapy on its own or with other anti-cancer treatments.
Chemotherapy or immunotherapy
This is a drug treatment which is used to try and destroy cancer cells. Some patients will receive chemotherapy on its own, others will receive it followed by radiotherapy.
More information about treatment for Kidney cancer
Living with and beyond cancer
After completing your cancer treatment If you have any symptoms or concerns contact your clinical nurse specialist and your GP.