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Kidney cancer is a disease where abnormal cells grow in the kidney. Learn symptoms, risk factors, testing, and treatment options in simple, easy-to-understand language.
🩺 Kidney Cancer Overview
🩺 Kidney Cancer Overview
What Is Kidney Cancer?
What Is Kidney Cancer?
Kidney cancer happens when cells in the kidney begin to grow out of control.
Instead of growing normally, these abnormal cells form a mass called a tumor. Not every kidney mass is cancer, but some can be.
Kidney cancer is one of the more common cancers of the urinary system.
Renal Cell Carcinoma (RCC)
Renal Cell Carcinoma (RCC)
The most common type in adults
Starts in the small filtering tubes of the kidney
Transitional Cell Cancer
Transitional Cell Cancer
starts in the lining cells of the urinary system—such as the bladder, ureters, or part of the kidney
Wilms Tumor
Wilms Tumor
A rare type that mainly affects children
What Causes Kidney Cancer?
What Causes Kidney Cancer?
Often, there is no single clear cause.
Risk factors include:
Smoking
Obesity
High blood pressure
Family history of kidney cancer
Long-term dialysis
Certain inherited conditions
Older age
Having a risk factor does not mean someone will get kidney cancer, but it can increase the chance.
What Are the Symptoms?
What Are the Symptoms?
Early kidney cancer often causes no symptoms.
When symptoms do occur, they may include:
Blood in the urine
Pain in the side or back
A lump or mass in the abdomen
Unexplained weight loss
Fatigue
Fever
Loss of appetite
Many kidney cancers are found accidentally on imaging tests done for other reasons.
How Is Kidney Cancer Diagnosed?
How Is Kidney Cancer Diagnosed?
Imaging Tests
Imaging Tests
Kidney ultrasound, CT scan, MRI
Imaging is usually the main way kidney cancer is found.
Blood and Urine Tests
Blood and Urine Tests
To check overall kidney function
To look for signs of bleeding or anemia
Biopsy
Biopsy
Sometimes a kidney biopsy is used to confirm whether a mass is cancerous.
How Is Kidney Cancer Treated?
How Is Kidney Cancer Treated?
Treatment depends on:
Size of the tumor
Whether it has spread
Overall health of the patient
Common treatments include:
Surgery
Surgery
Removing part of the kidney
Removing the whole kidney
Other Treatments
Other Treatments
Targeted therapies
Immunotherapy
Radiation (in some cases)
Active monitoring for small tumors
Many kidney cancers can be treated successfully, especially when found early.
What Is the Outlook?
What Is the Outlook?
The outlook depends on:
How early the cancer is found
Size and type of tumor
Whether it has spread
When kidney cancer is found early, the chance of successful treatment is often very good.
When Should You See a Doctor?
When Should You See a Doctor?
Talk to a doctor if you have:
Blood in your urine
Persistent side or back pain
Unexplained weight loss
A new mass found on imaging
Abnormal kidney test results
Early evaluation is important.
Important Takeaway
Important Takeaway
Kidney cancer can be serious, but many cases are found early and treated effectively. Regular medical care and prompt attention to symptoms can make a big difference.
Related Pages
Related Pages
Kidney Ultrasound Results Explained
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