Kidney Cancer Program

Symptoms, Causes & Risk Factors

Symptoms of Kidney Cancer

Kidney cancer often has no noticeable symptoms in the early stages. As it advances and the tumor gets bigger, symptoms might begin to appear, including:

• Blood in the urine
• A lump in the kidney area
• Tiredness
• Generally feeling unwell
• Fever
• High blood pressure
• Loss of weight/appetite
• Bone pain
• Anemia

Causes & Risk Factors of Kidney Cancer

It is not known what causes kidney cancer. However, several risk factors have been identified, which might increase your chance of developing it. These include:

• Smoking
• Obesity
• High blood pressure
• Family history
• Long-term kidney dialysis
• Radiation (in particular in women who have received radiation treatment for cancer of the reproductive organs)
• Gene changes (mutations in certain genes can increase kidney cancer risk)
• Von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) disease (an inherited disorder that causes non-cancerous tumors in the blood vessels)
• Tuberous sclerosis (a disease that causes seizures and the formation of tumors)

Prevention & Screening

There is no way to prevent kidney cancer as the exact cause is not known. However, you can reduce your risk by avoiding some of the risk factors, including smoking and exposure to certain chemicals.

Being aware of the symptoms of kidney cancer means it is likely to be detected at an earlier stage when it is less likely to have spread to other parts of the body. Chances of recovery depend on the stage of the cancer, the type diagnosed and the patient's general state of health.

Diagnosis & Treatment

Diagnosis of Kidney Cancer 

If your doctor suspects kidney cancer, they will perform a physical exam and discuss your medical history in detail. They may also order certain tests to help diagnose and assess the cancer, including:  

• Urine tests: A sample is tested for traces of blood.  
• Blood tests: To count the numbers of different types of blood cells, electrolytes and creatine (which indicates that kidney function is impaired. 
• Sophisticated imaging including CT (Computed Tomography) scan, MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) and Ultrasound to help detect tumors 
• Renal mass biopsy: A sample of tissue is taken from the tumor via a thin needle and examined for cancer cells. 

Most cancers are then staged before treatment is decided upon, based on its locations, size, whether lymph nodes are affected, how much it has spread and to which organs and tissues.  

Treatment of Kidney Cancer 

Surgery is the most common treatment for most kidney cancers. Our surgeons are experts in kidney preservation and minimally invasive surgery. Most of these procedures can be done through small incisions.  

• Minimally invasive/Robotic Partial nephrectomy: Removal of only part of the kidney. 
• Minimally invasive/Robotic Radical nephrectomy: The whole kidney is removed as well as some tissue around the kidney and lymph nodes if necessary. The remaining kidney is often able to carry out the function of both kidneys successfully.  

New chemotherapy drugs are available to treat kidney cancer, which block blood flow to the tumor and put the cancer into remission. Immunotherapy can sometimes be suitable, which uses the body’s own immune system to fight the tumor. 

Your doctor will discuss all treatment options with you in detail, as well as possible side effects, to ensure you make the best decision for you.