Common symptoms
- Often no symptoms; many are found by chance on a scan
- Blood in the urine
- Pain in the side or back
- A lump in the abdomen
- Tiredness, weight loss or fever without a clear cause
What is kidney cancer?
Kidney cancer starts in the cells of the kidney. The most common type in adults is renal cell carcinoma (RCC). With the wider use of ultrasound and CT scans, many kidney cancers are now found early and by chance, when they are small and highly treatable.
Risk factors
- Smoking
- Obesity
- High blood pressure
- Long-term dialysis
- Certain inherited conditions
How is it diagnosed?
- Ultrasound, which often first detects a kidney mass
- Contrast CT scan or MRI, to characterise the tumour and plan treatment
- Chest imaging, to check for spread
- Biopsy in selected cases
Treatment options
- Active surveillance for some small tumours, especially in older patients or those with other health problems.
- Partial nephrectomy: removes the tumour while preserving healthy kidney tissue.
- Radical nephrectomy: removes the whole kidney, for larger tumours.
- Both operations can often be done by laparoscopic or robot-assisted surgery.
- Targeted therapy and immunotherapy for advanced disease, in coordination with medical oncology.
When to see a urologist
See a urologist if a scan has shown a kidney mass or cyst that needs evaluation, or if you have blood in your urine.
Treatments offered
- Active surveillance for selected small tumours
- Partial nephrectomy (removal of the tumour only)
- Radical nephrectomy (removal of the whole kidney)
- Laparoscopic and robot-assisted approaches
- Targeted therapy and immunotherapy for advanced disease, with oncology
Frequently asked questions
Can a kidney be saved if it has a tumour?
For many small kidney tumours, a partial nephrectomy removes only the tumour and preserves the rest of the kidney. Whether this is possible depends on the tumour's size and position.
Can I live normally with one kidney?
Yes. Most people live a normal life with one healthy kidney. Your urologist will advise regular check-ups of kidney function and blood pressure.
Is kidney cancer surgery done by keyhole?
Many kidney cancer operations can be done laparoscopically or with robotic assistance, through small cuts. This usually means less pain and a faster recovery than open surgery.
This page is general information and not a substitute for a consultation. Every patient is different, and the right treatment depends on an individual assessment.