Kidney cancer
Most people who are diagnosed with kidney cancer do not have any symptoms. They might be having a scan for other things and it shows that they have a kidney cancer. This is called an incidental diagnosis. Their cancer has been found by chance when investigating something else.
Blood in the urine (called haematuria) is the most common symptom of kidney cancer.
It can also be caused by other things such as an infection, enlargement of the prostate or kidney stones. Always see your GP if you see any blood in your urine.
The blood does not have to be there all the time. It can come and go. Sometimes, the blood can't be seen by the naked eye. Your doctor can do a simple urine test to check.
If you feel a lump or swelling in the area of your kidneys, you should see your doctor.
Most kidney cancers are too small for you or a doctor to feel. But your doctor can arrange an ultrasound scan to check for cancer.
A pain in the side between your ribs and the hip (flank) can be a sign of kidney cancer. The pain may also go around to your lower back.
It can also be caused by other things like an infection or kidney stones. See your doctor if you keep getting this pain.
Some people have other symptoms which can be vague. These are:
weight loss
a high temperature and very heavy sweating
tiredness
loss of appetite
a general feeling of poor health
A high temperature and sweats can be caused by an infection. Your doctor may want to rule this out first.
High blood pressure and having fewer red blood cells than normal (anaemia) can also be symptoms of kidney cancer. These symptoms are related to the hormones the kidneys produce.
All the symptoms above can be caused by many other conditions. Most people who have them will not have cancer. But if you have any of these symptoms, go to your doctor. If it is cancer, it will be easier to treat if it’s diagnosed early.
Last reviewed: 22 Jan 2024
Next review due: 22 Jan 2027
The kidneys are bean shaped organs near the middle of your back. They filter waste products out of your blood as urine. Kidney cancer develops when abnormal cells in either of the kidneys start to divide and grow in an uncontrolled way.
You should see your GP first if you notice a change that isn't normal for you. They will do some tests and may refer you to a specialist if they think your symptoms could be due to kidney cancer.
We don't know what causes most kidney cancers. But some factors may increase the risk of getting it. These include getting older, smoking and some rare inherited conditions.
Tests tell your doctor more about the kidney cancer. They tell them the sort of kidney cell it started in (type). And how much the cells look like normal cells (grade). They also show how big the cancer is and if it has spread (stage).
Treatments for kidney cancer include surgery, cryotherapy, radiofrequency ablation and radiotherapy. You might have different treatment for advanced kidney cancer.
Kidney cancer is cancer that starts in the kidneys. The kidneys filter waste products out of your blood as urine. Kidney cancer develops when abnormal cells in either of the kidneys start to divide and grow in an uncontrolled way.
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