Patient education: Kidney cancer (The Basics)

What is kidney cancer? — 

This is when normal cells in the kidney change into abnormal cells and grow out of control (figure 1). People have 2 kidneys: 1 on each side of the mid-back. The kidneys filter blood and remove waste and excess salt and water. Urine is made up of these things.

What are the symptoms of kidney cancer? — 

Smaller kidney tumors do not always cause symptoms.

But larger tumors and tumors that spread outside the kidney can cause symptoms, such as:

●Bloody urine

●Pain in either side of the lower back, the side, or the stomach

●A lump in the belly or on the side of the back

●Unexplained weight loss

These symptoms can also be caused by conditions that are not cancer. But if you have these symptoms, you should be checked by a doctor or nurse.

Is there a test for kidney cancer? — 

Yes. If you have symptoms of kidney cancer, your doctor or nurse might order a test to check your kidneys.

Tests might include:

●CT scan

●MRI

●Ultrasound

These are imaging tests that create pictures of the inside of the body, and can show tumors or abnormal growths.

Most people find out they have kidney cancer after having an imaging test for an unrelated symptom. For example, people sometimes have a CT scan because they have belly pain and then find out they have a tumor in a kidney.

What is kidney cancer staging? — 

Cancer staging is a way to find out how far a cancer has spread.

The right treatment for you depends a lot on the stage of your kidney cancer.

How is kidney cancer treated? — 

Treatment usually involves 1 or both of these:

●Surgery – When cancer is confined to the kidney, it is usually treated with surgery. The goal is to remove the entire tumor. This can involve removing all or part of the affected kidney. The decision about how much to remove depends on different things, including how well the other kidney works and the size of the tumor. In some cases, surgery can help even if the cancer already spread to other parts of the body.

●Medical treatment – Different medicines can also be used to treat kidney cancer, particularly if the cancer cannot be removed or if there is evidence it has spread. This might include:

•Targeted therapy – This includes medicines that block certain blood vessels or proteins in the body that help the cancer grow.

•Immunotherapy – These are medicines that work with the body's infection-fighting system (the "immune system") to stop cancer growth.

What happens after treatment? — 

You will be checked regularly to see if the cancer comes back. Follow-up tests can include exams, lab tests, and X-rays.

What happens if the cancer comes back or spreads? — 

You might have more surgery or medical treatment.

What else should I do? — 

Follow all your doctor's instructions about visits and tests. It's also important to talk to your doctor about any side effects or problems you have during treatment.

Getting treated for kidney cancer involves making many choices, such as which type of surgery to have or which medicine to take.

Always tell your doctors and nurses how you feel about a treatment. Any time you are offered a treatment, ask:

●What are the benefits of this treatment? Is it likely to help me live longer? Will it reduce or prevent symptoms?

●What are the downsides of this treatment?

●Are there other options besides this treatment?

●What happens if I do not have this treatment?

More on this topic

Patient education: Blood in the urine (hematuria) in adults (The Basics)
Patient education: Blood in the urine (hematuria) in children (The Basics)
Patient education: Nephrectomy (The Basics)

Patient education: Renal cell carcinoma (kidney cancer) (Beyond the Basics)
Patient education: Blood in the urine (hematuria) in adults (Beyond the Basics)
Patient education: Blood in the urine (hematuria) in children (Beyond the Basics)