The kidneys are the pair of organs that remove waste products from blood, regulate blood pressure and the blood's electrolyte balance. Kidney cancer occurs when abnormal cells grow uncontrollably in the kidneys. These abnormal cells can grow to form a cancer, cells of which can separate and spread to other parts of the body (metastasize).
The fundamental unit of life; the simplest living unit that can exist, grow, and reproduce independently. The human body is composed of trillions of cells of many kinds.
The cause of kidney cancer, as with other cancers, is due to damage to cellular DNA. This damage results in uncontrolled cell growth, which leads to a cancer forming. The cancer can invade nearby tissue, and cells can separate and spread throughout the body via the bloodstream or lymphatic system. In most cases, the exact cause of this cellular damage is unknown.
The fundamental unit of life; the simplest living unit that can exist, grow, and reproduce independently. The human body is composed of trillions of cells of many kinds.
The genetic material of all living cells and some viruses. The full name is deoxyribonucleic acid.
A network of vessels, lymph nodes, the spleen and other organs that transport lymph fluid between tissues and bloodstream.
Risk factors for kidney cancer include:
The urinary system and kidney anatomy.
A mechanical blood-filtering treatment that mimics the function of your kidneys, which normally work as your body’s natural filtration system to remove the body's waste products from the blood.
Related to genes, the body's units of inheritance or origin.
An inherited disorder characterized by the development of numerous benign and malignant tumors throughout the body.
Energy that is emitted, such as heat, light, or energy in electromagnetic waves. Different types of radiation can be used to diagnose and treat disease.
A rare genetic disease that causes tumors to grow in the brain and other organs and causes a combination of symptoms that may include seizures, intellectual disability, behavioral problems, and kidney disease.
A growth caused by an abnormal and uncontrolled reproduction of cells.
The organs of the body that are involved in removing excess water and waste products from the bloodstream.
In renal cell carcinoma (RCC), which accounts for the vast majority of cases of kidney cancer, the cancer originates in the lining of the small tubes within the kidneys. It is further classified as follows:
Transitional cells line parts of the urinary system, such as the bladder and the tubes that urine flows through (ureters and urethra). These cells can stretch to accommodate the storage and flow of urine. In transitional cell carcinomas, which account for a minority of cases of kidney cancer, the cancer originates in the area between the ureter and the kidney (renal pelvis) in these transitional cells.
This rare form of kidney cancer originates in specialized cells, called nephrogenic rest cells, which are present in an unborn baby's kidneys. These cells usually disappear after birth, but not in children who have this type of cancer.
This rare type of kidney cancer originates in the surrounding tissue or blood vessels of the kidneys.
The fundamental unit of life; the simplest living unit that can exist, grow, and reproduce independently. The human body is composed of trillions of cells of many kinds.
The duct through which urine flows from the kidneys to the bladder.
The duct through which urine flows from the bladder to outside the body.
The organs of the body that are involved in removing excess water and waste products from the bloodstream.
Treatment outcomes can vary greatly, depending on the stage of cancer. Cancer is staged according to the size and location of the cancer and whether it has spread to lymph nodes or organs throughout the body.
| Stage I | The cancer is less than 7 centimeters (2.76 inches) in diameter and the cancer has not spread outside the kidney. |
| Stage II | The cancer is greater than 7 centimeters (2.76 inches) in diameter and has not spread outside the kidney. |
| Stage IIIA | The cancer can be any size, but has spread to the blood vessels. |
| Stage IIIB | The cancer can be any size, but has spread to the lymph nodes. |
| Stage IV | The cancer can be any size, but has spread throughout the body to other organs. |
Most of the time, kidney cancer does not cause any symptoms in the early stages, so if it is detected early, it is often a chance finding. For example, you may be having an ultrasound investigating a liver problem and an unusual mass is seen in one of the kidneys, or a urine dipstick performed during a routine medical examination may find traces of blood. These findings can prompt further investigation into the cause. In later stages, you may actually notice blood in your urine.
Other symptoms include:
A deficiency in red blood cells or hemoglobin in the body.
Relating to the abdomen, the middle portion of the trunk which contains organs such as the intestines, stomach and liver.
Your doctor will ask you questions about your symptoms. During the physical examination, your doctor may feel your abdomen for any abnormalities such as an abnormal mass. They may also ask for a urine sample to detect the presence of blood in the urine.
Urinalysis is a routine examination of the urine for cells, microbes or chemicals that indicate a range of different illnesses. This test requires you to urinate in a small plastic cup. Sometimes you will be required to provide a 'first catch' sample, in which you catch the urine immediately as you expel it, while other times you will need to provide a 'midstream' or 'clean catch' sample, which is urine collected after an initial amount has been passed. Midstream samples are used for a urine culture, as they are less likely to be contaminated by the normal bacteria from the skin. Your doctor might order a urinalysis if you have abdominal pain or blood in your urine, but also as a routine test.
Using a blood sample, a machine can count your number of white blood cells, red blood cells and platelets. A manual count can also be performed by a scientist using a microscope. The complete blood count, also known as a full blood count, is a routine test, but is also used to screen for infection and blood disorders such as anemia.
Your doctor might order a range of blood tests that can provide information about kidney and liver function, sugar and proteins in the blood, and electrolyte levels.
Scans used in the diagnosis and management of kidney cancer include:
Fine-needle aspiration (FNA) is used to take a tissue sample (biopsy). It involves your doctor inserting a thin needle into the kidney. This is usually performed using an ultrasound or CT scan to help guide the needle to the suspected cancer.
A deficiency in red blood cells or hemoglobin in the body.
Microscopic, single-celled organisms with DNA but no definite nucleus. Bacteria are the cause of many human diseases.
The fundamental unit of life; the simplest living unit that can exist, grow, and reproduce independently. The human body is composed of trillions of cells of many kinds.
A scan that uses X-rays to create a 3D image of the body. This can detect abnormalities more effectively than a simple X-ray can.
A type of imaging that uses a magnetic field and low-energy radio waves, instead of X-rays, to obtain images of organs.
During positron emission tomography (PET) scan, an injection with a radioactive label is administered and then combined with a computerized tomography (CT) scan to produce functional images.
Energy that is emitted, such as heat, light, or energy in electromagnetic waves. Different types of radiation can be used to diagnose and treat disease.
The duct through which urine flows from the kidneys to the bladder.
Relating to the abdomen, the middle portion of the trunk which contains organs such as the intestines, stomach and liver.
There are several surgical options that may be considered by your doctor, including:
It is possible to survive with only one healthy kidney. Therefore, the removal or embolization of the affected kidney usually does not impair a person's kidney function.
Other therapies can be used in addition to surgical treatments, to further improve treatment outcomes. They may be given before surgery (neoadjuvant therapy) and/or after surgery (adjuvant therapy). When given before surgery, they aim to reduce the size, and therefore stage, of the cancer. When given after surgery, they aim to help prevent the cancer returning. These non-surgical treatments include chemotherapy, radiotherapy, targeted therapy or a combination of these.
Occasionally, these therapies may be used if individuals are not suitable for surgical treatment. Often in these situations, the aim of treatment is to control symptoms and not necessarily for cure. The treatment options and aims can differ based upon the individual, the stage and type of cancer. Your doctor can help explain this information in more detail.
Chemotherapy works by damaging cancer cells and stopping their reproduction. Various medications can be used, which can be administered intravenously or orally. They are often given in cycles, with intervening rest periods, to help reduce toxic side effects. These side effects include:
Side effects occur because chemotherapy can also affect healthy cells. Your doctor will monitor your dosage carefully to achieve an optimum therapeutic effect.
Some medications used in chemotherapy are administered intravenously.
External beam radiation uses focused X-rays to destroy cancerous cells. It is not often used for kidney cancer, as cancerous cells in the kidney are not as sensitive to radiation as other types of cancerous cells. However, when surgery is not possible, such as in cases of advanced kidney cancer, radiotherapy and chemotherapy can be the main line of treatment. In this situation, radiotherapy is used to relieve symptoms, such as blood in the urine and pain. Another form of radiation therapy is brachytherapy. This involves implanting radioactive seeds directly into or close to the cancer, which deliver cell-destroying radiation directly into the cancer.
Some medications can be used to help stop the growth of the cancer by blocking the action of enzymes involved in the growth of cancer cells. These medications, such as tyrosine kinase and mTOR inhibitors, can often be taken in tablet form.
Immunotherapy is usually only used in advanced stages of kidney cancer. It involves the use of medications that boost the immune system to work harder or smarter to attack cancer cells.
Some people diagnosed with cancer seek out complementary and alternative therapies. None of these therapies are proven to cure cancer, but some can help people feel better when used together with conventional medical treatment. It is important to discuss any other treatments with your doctor, before starting them.
Two glands, each located on top of a kidney, that produce hormones including cortisol and sex hormones.
The fundamental unit of life; the simplest living unit that can exist, grow, and reproduce independently. The human body is composed of trillions of cells of many kinds.
A medication-based treatment, usually used in the treatment of cancers. There are numerous, different types of chemotherapy drugs that can be prescribed by a specialist. These can commonly be used alongside other cancer treatments such as surgery and radiotherapy.
Within a vein.
Energy that is emitted, such as heat, light, or energy in electromagnetic waves. Different types of radiation can be used to diagnose and treat disease.
A treatment that uses ionizing radiation to kill or control growth of malignant cancer cells.
Treatment for kidney cancer can cause several side effects, including:
Advanced kidney cancer can metastasize. This is when the cancer spreads to other parts of the body through the bloodstream or lymphatic system, causing a harmful effect on the function of the affected organs.
A medication-based treatment, usually used in the treatment of cancers. There are numerous, different types of chemotherapy drugs that can be prescribed by a specialist. These can commonly be used alongside other cancer treatments such as surgery and radiotherapy.
A network of vessels, lymph nodes, the spleen and other organs that transport lymph fluid between tissues and bloodstream.
A treatment that uses ionizing radiation to kill or control growth of malignant cancer cells.
The prognosis for kidney cancer depends on the type and stage of the disease, but the overall five-year survival rate is 72%. For those who survive the first year, this increases to 84% and for those who survive the first five years, the forward five-year survival rate further increases to 90%. [1]
It is important to remember survival rates are only an indication, and are based upon the averages of previously treated patients. It is not an absolute prognosis for an individual. It is often difficult to accurately predict an individual's cure or survival rate. Constant advances in treatment are continually improving these statistics.
Cancer survival and prevalence in Australia: period estimates from 1982 to 2010. Australian Government – Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. Accessed 22 September 2014 from
The exact cause of kidney cancer is unknown in many cases, so it usually cannot be prevented, but you can reduce your risk by quitting smoking and following a healthy diet to achieve and maintain a healthy weight.