What is kidney cancer?
The kidneys filter waste products from your blood and produce urine. Sometimes, cells within the kidney grow abnormally, forming a lump or tumour. Most kidney tumours are cancers (malignant tumours), which have the potential to spread beyond the kidney if left untreated. A smaller number are benign tumours, which can grow but do not spread to other parts of the body.
Increasingly, kidney tumours are detected by chance during scans performed for unrelated reasons, often while they are still small and confined to the kidney. This is encouraging because kidney cancer diagnosed at an early stage can often be cured.
Symptoms
Many kidney cancers cause no symptoms at all. When they do, you might notice:
- Blood in your urine
- Persistent pain in your side or lower back
- A lump in your abdomen or side
How it is diagnosed
CT and MRI scans provide detailed information about the size and location of a kidney tumour and can also show whether there are signs that it has spread to nearby structures or other parts of the body.
Tumours that have spread, and most larger tumours (greater than 7 cm), are kidney cancers. Smaller tumours (less than 4 cm) are more variable, with around 20–30% proving to be benign rather than cancerous.
In some cases, a percutaneous (needle) biopsy is performed under local anaesthetic. This involves taking a small sample of tissue from the tumour to determine whether it is benign or malignant and can help guide the most appropriate treatment.
Treatment options
Treatment depends on the size of the tumour, whether it has spread, your overall health, and the function of your kidneys.
For small kidney tumours, several effective treatment options are available. In selected patients, active surveillance may be appropriate, with regular scans to monitor the tumour if it is growing slowly and unlikely to cause harm. Another option is ablative therapy, which destroys the tumour by freezing it (cryoablation) or heating it (radiofrequency or microwave ablation) using needles inserted through the skin under image guidance.
For many patients, the preferred treatment is a robotic partial nephrectomy, which removes the tumour while preserving as much healthy kidney tissue as possible. This offers excellent cancer control while helping to maintain long-term kidney function.
Larger or more complex tumours may require a radical nephrectomy, in which the entire kidney is removed. Most people can live a normal, healthy life with one functioning kidney.
If the cancer has spread beyond the kidney, treatment usually involves modern systemic therapies, including targeted therapies and immunotherapy. These treatments can control the disease for many patients, relieve symptoms, and, in some cases, achieve long-lasting responses.
Why choose Mr Walton
Mr Walton has over 25 years clinical experience, with more than 13 years as a Consultant Urologist with a specialist interest in kidney cancer management. He is a former member of the BAUS Oncology Executive, and an expert contributor for the GIRFT National Kidney Cancer Guidelines Committee. With more than 250 robotic kidney surgeries performed, he offers genuine experience and expertise, with a focus on preserving long-term kidney function wherever possible.