Kidney cancer includes several tumor types. In adults, renal cell carcinoma is the most common. Treatment depends on tumor size, location, stage, kidney function, overall health and whether the cancer has spread.
Blood in the urine
BIMARIDUR HEALTH ENCYCLOPEDIA
Kidney Cancer
Kidney cancer is a cancer that begins in the cells of the kidney. Renal cell carcinoma is the most common type of kidney cancer in adults.
ICDC64.9
Affected areaKidneys and, in advanced disease, nearby lymph nodes, blood vessels, lungs, bones, liver, brain or other organs.
ContagiousnessKidney cancer is not contagious and cannot spread from person to person.
01 • QUICK UNDERSTANDING
What is Kidney Cancer?
02 • BODY & MECHANISM
What happens in the body?
Body structure involved
The kidneys are paired organs located on either side of the spine in the back of the abdomen. They filter blood, regulate fluid and electrolyte balance and produce hormones involved in blood pressure and red blood cell production.
How it starts
Kidney cancer begins when kidney cells acquire genetic changes that disrupt normal growth and cell death. Over time, abnormal cells can form a tumor.
What happens inside the body
Abnormal kidney cells acquire changes that allow them to grow and divide uncontrollably. A tumor may remain within the kidney or invade nearby tissues and spread to distant organs.
03 • TYPES & CLASSIFICATION
Types and classification
Adult kidney cancers include several histologic types. Renal cell carcinoma is the most common adult kidney cancer and includes subtypes such as clear cell, papillary and chromophobe renal cell carcinoma.
Major kidney cancer types include renal cell carcinoma, transitional cell carcinoma of the renal pelvis or ureter and Wilms tumor, which primarily affects children. Renal cell carcinoma itself has several subtypes.
04 • SYMPTOMS
Symptoms and warning signs
Pain in the side or lower back
Abdominal or flank mass
Unexplained weight loss
Persistent fatigue
Fever without a clear cause
Anemia
Loss of appetite
Night sweats
06 • CAUSES
What can cause this disease?
The exact cause is often unknown. Risk is associated with smoking, obesity, high blood pressure, certain inherited conditions and some occupational or environmental exposures.
07 • RISK FACTORS
Who may have a higher risk?
1
Older age
2
Smoking or tobacco exposure
3
Obesity
4
Hypertension
5
Family history of kidney cancer
6
Inherited cancer syndromes
7
Long-term kidney disease or dialysis in selected populations
08 • DIAGNOSIS
How is Kidney Cancer diagnosed?
Evaluation may include physical examination, blood and urine tests and imaging such as ultrasound, CT or MRI. Additional testing and biopsy may be used when clinically appropriate.
Clinical evaluation
Blood pressure assessment
Abdominal examination
Assessment for flank or abdominal mass
Assessment for blood in urine
Evaluation of unexplained weight loss or fatigue
Review of kidney function
Family history assessment
Laboratory tests
Complete blood count
Serum creatinine
Estimated glomerular filtration rate
Blood chemistry tests
Urinalysis
Liver function tests when clinically indicated
Urine testing for blood
Imaging and scans
Renal ultrasound
Contrast-enhanced CT of the abdomen and pelvis
MRI of the abdomen when appropriate
Chest imaging for staging when indicated
Additional imaging for suspected metastatic disease
Special or confirmatory tests
Percutaneous kidney tumor biopsy when clinically appropriate
Pathological examination of removed tumor tissue
Genetic counseling for suspected inherited cancer syndrome
Molecular or biomarker testing in selected advanced disease
Assessment of kidney function before treatment
09 • DIFFERENTIAL CONTEXT
Conditions that may look similar
Simple renal cyst
Complex renal cyst
Kidney infection
Kidney stones
Benign renal angiomyolipoma
Other benign kidney tumors
Urothelial carcinoma
10 • EXTENT / STAGE
Stages or severity
Kidney cancer is commonly staged from I to IV using TNM principles. Stage I and II generally describe tumors confined to the kidney, stage III includes certain regional extension or lymph-node involvement, and stage IV includes distant spread or extensive local disease.
Important:
Staging or grading systems differ between diseases. The information here is educational and should be interpreted by a qualified healthcare professional in the context of the individual case.
11 • TREATMENT
How is Kidney Cancer treated?
Treatment may include active surveillance in selected small tumors, partial or radical nephrectomy, ablation, radiation for selected situations, immunotherapy and targeted therapy for advanced disease. Clinical trials may also be appropriate.
Medicines that may be used
Immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy for selected advanced renal cell cancers
Targeted therapy directed at tumor-growth pathways
Pain medicines when required
Medicines to manage treatment-related side effects
Supportive treatment based on symptoms and organ involvement
Medicine safety:
Medicines listed here are for educational information only. Do not start, stop, or change a medicine without professional medical advice.
12 • COMPLICATIONS
Possible complications
Complications can include bleeding, pain, impaired kidney function, recurrence and spread to other organs. Advanced disease may cause complications related to the organs involved.
URGENT SAFETY INFORMATION
When should urgent medical help be considered?
Heavy or persistent blood in the urine
Severe flank or abdominal pain
Fainting or marked weakness associated with bleeding
Sudden shortness of breath or chest pain
New neurological symptoms
Severe pain suggesting complications from advanced disease
If symptoms are severe, rapidly worsening, or life-threatening, seek emergency medical care immediately.
13 • OUTLOOK
Prognosis and recovery outlook
Localized kidney cancer can often be treated effectively. Prognosis becomes more complex when the tumor has invaded nearby structures or spread to distant organs.
How to interpret these statistics
Survival statistics describe outcomes in groups of people and cannot predict exactly what will happen to one individual. Prognosis depends on factors such as cancer stage, tumor biology, treatment response, overall health, and follow-up.
14 • EPIDEMIOLOGY
How common is it?
Kidney cancer occurs more often in adults and risk increases with age. Smoking, obesity, hypertension, family history and certain inherited syndromes can increase risk.
15 • PREVENTION
Risk reduction and prevention
Avoid tobacco, maintain a healthy body weight, control blood pressure and discuss inherited cancer risk when there is a strong family history.
16 • PREPARE FOR YOUR VISIT
Questions you may ask your doctor
1
What type of kidney tumor do I have?
2
What is the stage of my kidney cancer?
3
Do I need a biopsy?
4
Can the tumor be treated with partial nephrectomy?
5
How will treatment affect my kidney function?
6
Do I need CT or MRI imaging?
7
Should I have genetic counseling?
8
What are my treatment options if the cancer has spread?
9
How often will I need follow-up imaging?
10
What symptoms should make me seek urgent medical care?
Important medical information
BimariDur provides educational health information to help people understand diseases, symptoms, tests, and treatment concepts. It does not replace examination, diagnosis, or treatment by a qualified healthcare professional.
Do not delay professional medical care because of information read on BimariDur.