Kidney cancer, also known as renal cancer or renal cell carcinoma, develops in the cells of the kidney.

Your kidneys are essential organs, and most people have two. They are located just below the rib cage, on each side of the spine, behind your abdominal organs. Each kidney is bean-shaped and about the size of your fist. 

There are several types of kidney cancer, which usually affect one kidney.

• Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) This is the most common type of kidney cancer, accounting for about 90% of cases.¹
• Wilms tumour This usually occurs in children but is very rare.
• Urothelial carcinoma, also called transitional cell carcinoma This usually begins where the kidney and ureter (the tube that carries urine to the kidney) meet. 
  

Kidney cancer may not cause symptoms in the early stages. Later stage symptoms may include:

• blood in the urine
• dark or rusty brown urine
• frequent urinating during the night
• unexplained fatigue
• unexplained rapid weight loss
• a lump in the abdomen
• unexplained fever
• pain in the flank or back

Having any of these symptoms doesn’t necessarily mean you have kidney cancer, but you should see your doctor for a check-up.

There is no clear reason for kidney cancer developing. However, some factors appear to increase the risk. These include:

• smoking¹
• family history of kidney cancer²
• being overweight³
• high blood pressure⁴
• exposure to workplace chemicals, including arsenic and benzene⁵

Having any of these risk factors doesn’t mean you will develop kidney cancer, but you should see your GP if you are worried.

Your GP will probably refer you to a specialist if they are concerned about your symptoms and risk factors for kidney cancer. Tests to diagnose kidney cancer may include:

• Blood and urine tests – Although these can’t diagnose kidney cancer on their own, they are often the first step in telling doctors what is going on in your body.
• Biopsy – A small amount of tissue is removed from a kidney so it can be examined under a microscope. The biopsy is taken through the skin with an ultrasound-guided needle or during open surgery.
• Imaging tests – These might include a PET-CT scan to see the kidneys from the inside or to see if cancer has spread anywhere else in the body.

If you are found to have kidney cancer, your doctor will give you details about how far your cancer has progressed. Kidney cancer is commonly staged with the TNM system, which is used to show how advanced the cancer is. These letters stand for:

• Tumour: Your doctors will measure the size of the tumour and how much it has grown
• Nodes: Refers to whether cancer has spread to lymph nodes
• Metastasis: Refers to whether cancer has spread to other parts of the body

Treatment for kidney cancer will depend on how advanced it is. Your doctor may recommend a watch-and-wait approach if you have a small tumour that isn’t aggressive. This involves monitoring your kidneys with regular ultrasounds or scans, but no treatment is given unless necessary. If the tumours are larger or more aggressive, recommended treatments may include:

• immunotherapy
• radiation therapy
• surgery
• targeted therapy

Kidney cancer doesn’t usually respond well to chemotherapy, so it isn’t a standard treatment.

We understand that a cancer diagnosis can be emotional and life-changing. It’s natural to feel disbelief, anxiety, sadness, anger and loneliness. At GenesisCare, we strive to strengthen your confidence, settle your emotions and create care experiences that give you the best possible outcomes.

Our care team will know your name and get to know who you are as a person. We don’t want you to feel alone when you’re with GenesisCare. Your nursing team and oncology team are here to support you before, during and after your cancer treatment. We are here to guide you and help you access support from experts such as psychologists, exercise physiologists, physiotherapists and dietitians.

Please contact your local GenesisCare centre for more details on the services available. View a list of our centres here.

General side effects include:

• fatigue
• nausea
• coughing
• skin rashes or itching
• diarrhoea
• low blood pressure
• high fevers

Side effects may include:

• discomfort or swelling around the treatment area
• tiredness and lethargy for a few weeks after you finish
• nausea
• diarrhoea

Most of these side effects will ease soon after treatment is finished. However, your team will discuss any long-term considerations with you, depending on the tumour type.

If you have part of or a whole kidney removed, your remaining kidney usually does the work of both. Your surgeon will talk to you about any risks before surgery. General side effects of kidney surgery include:

• pain and swelling
• wound infection
• kidney failure

General side effects include:

• nausea
• fatigue
• mouth sores
• loss of appetite
• cough
• changes in your voice.

Other information, resources and support services are available to assist you during your cancer journey. These include:

Cancer Council Australia

13 11 20

cancer.org.au

Australian Cancer Research Foundation

02 9223 7833

acrf.com.au

References

1. Tobacco smoking, body mass index, hypertension, and kidney cancer risk in central and eastern Europe. https://www.nature.com/articles/6604761
   
2. Family history of cancer and renal cell cancer risk in Caucasians and African Americans. British Journal of Cancer volume 102, pages1676–1680 (2010). https://www.nature.com/articles/6605680
3. Obesity and Kidney Cancer. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27909903/
4. Hypertension and risk of renal cell carcinoma among white and black americans. Epidemiology. 2011 Nov; 22(6): 797–804. doi: 10.1097/EDE.0b013e3182300720. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3188386/
5. Renal cell carcinoma and occupational exposure to chemicals in Canada. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12063361/