Experiences with

Kidney cancer

SymptomsCausesPreventionDiagnosisMedical treatments

Where to find help and support

You and your loved ones will be supported throughout your treatment by a group of specialists.

The clinical nurse specialist, or another member of your specialist team will be able to give you information on local support services that you may find helpful.

There are also national cancer charities that offer support and information about kidney cancer.

Kidney Cancer UK

Information and support for anyone affected by kidney cancer.

Macmillan Cancer Support

A charity for anyone affected by cancer that offers online and telephone support.

Cancer Research UK

A charity that provides information about cancer, plus online support and information about clinical trials.

Maggie's Centres

Practical, emotional and social support for anyone affected by cancer.

Marie Curie

Care and support for anyone affected by a terminal illness.

Main tests for kidney cancer

If your GP refers you to a specialist because they think you could have kidney cancer, you’ll usually have some tests and scans.

These may include:

  • an ultrasound scan
  • a CT scan
  • a cystoscopy – a camera is passed through the tube that carries pees out of your body (urethra) to look inside your bladder
  • using a needle to collect a small sample of cells from 1 of your kidneys (biopsy) for testing

Who is more likely to get kidney cancer

Anyone can get kidney cancer, but some things can increase your chances of getting it.

You may be more likely to get it if you:

  • have a close relative with kidney cancer
  • smoke
  • are overweight or living with obesity
  • have high blood pressure
  • have certain inherited genetic conditions, such as tuberous sclerosis
  • are having long-term dialysis for chronic kidney disease

How to reduce your chances of getting kidney cancer

You cannot always prevent kidney cancer. But making healthy changes can lower your chances of getting it.

Main treatments for kidney cancer

The treatment you have for kidney cancer will depend on:

  • the type of kidney cancer you have
  • where it is and how big it is
  • if it has spread
  • your general health

Treatment may include surgery, cryotherapy, radiofrequency ablation, targeted medicines, radiotherapy or chemotherapy.

The specialist care team looking after you will:

  • explain the treatments, benefits and any side effects
  • work with you to create a treatment plan that is best for you
  • help you manage any side effects

Main symptoms of kidney cancer

Often there are no obvious symptoms of kidney cancer. It’s usually diagnosed when testing for something else.

When there are symptoms, they can include:

  • blood in your pee
  • a lump or swelling in your back, under your ribs, or in your neck
  • pain between your ribs and waist that does not go away
  • loss of appetite or losing weight without trying to
  • feeling tired or having no energy
  • a high temperature that does not go away
  • sweating a lot, including at night

  • your pee is smelly, cloudy or has blood in it
  • it is painful to pee or you need to pee suddenly or more often
  • you have a pain in your back, under your ribs that does not go away
  • you have pain in your genitals
  • you have a lump or swelling in your back, under your ribs, or in your neck

It’s important to get help as soon as possible as the symptoms can be similar to a kidney infection , which can be serious if it's not treated quickly.

Get help from 111 online or call 111.

  • lost a noticeable amount of weight
  • a high temperature that does not go away
  • no energy or extreme tiredness (fatigue)

Some of these symptoms are common and can be caused by many different conditions.

Having them does not definitely mean you have kidney cancer. But it's important to get them checked by a GP.

This is because if they're caused by cancer, finding it early can mean it’s more treatable.

Related links

Content supplied by the NHS website

HealthUnlocked contains information from NHS Digital, licensed under the current version of the Open Government Licence

37,146 public posts

metastasised kidney cancer led to Nivolab immunotherapy

Writing for my husband, in brief: Had kidney out due to cancer Metastasised to both lungs and thorax. Five years of scans. Now on his spine, shown on pet scan Started immunotherapy, Nivolab and daily tablet. Had four sessions ,become really really ill.
MydogBrandy profile image

Von Hippel Lindau Syndrome

So, my question for those who have read this far, is have any of you had kidney cancer or Von Hippel Lindau? I am so curious if a correlation has been found between APS and VHL?
myarabella profile image

Just a quick question.

A Canadian friend who had kidney cancer which metastasised to his lung told us of a drug called Axitinib. He had been given a prognosis of 4 months but got on a trial using this drug and 48 months later is still NED. Does anyone have any info on this?
Believeit profile image
Want to take advantage of all our features? Just log in!
or

Liver nodules

My brother has recently been diagnosed with stage 4 kidney cancer... they say its a genetic mutation from a certain gene which causes paraganglioma... my mum died from paraganglioma cancer when I was small.
Kjs1993 profile image

It's not the pancreas!

My aunt learned this evening that she has kidney cancer and not pancreatic. I don't pretend to know how the body works, but apparently the kidney that was removed some years ago left behind some cells that attached themselves to the pancreas.
NorasMom profile image

Scleroderma bowel

Hi All, I have systemic scleroderma, pulmonary hypertension and kidney cancer. All diagnosed around the same time. The thing that affects daily life the most is my bowels that do not behave in a fitting way that I find acceptable. I take loperamide every day.
Badflower profile image

RA treatment advice

Since then I have suffered pain in my right leg and had 2 spinal injections..AND have been diagnosed with kidney cancer and had 1 kidney completely removed this year!
mogs231 profile image
mogs231
in NRAS

How dangerous is Pluvicto?

His wife is convinced that it was the Pluvicto that caused the fast moving kidney/liver cancer. (He was an engineer by trade and curious about technology - - he’d purchased a Geiger counter when he started Pluvicto and it did register radiation emanating from his body.)
Explorer08 profile image

Nuclear Scan

hello Back in April I had a kidney removed (cancer) whilst in hospital I had a heart attack, I waiting an ambulance for a Nuclear Scan of my heart, can’t have contrast medium as my kidney will have a problem, has anyone had this type of scan and what does it involve. Tiaras
Bunny1900 profile image

finally.....

Just a reminder I am an 11 year kidney cancer survivor and 10 year endometrial survivor. Something about this phone call made this cancer real....and butting into my life. thank you for listening
DianeSH profile image
DianeSH
in CLL Support

Prayers needed

My aunt has just been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. She's already lost a kidney and was widowed 13 months ago. She's a wonderful woman who has kept smiling and remained good-humored through everything, but how much can one person take?
NorasMom profile image

FYI: Social media scam targets kidney donations-Please Share....

Social media scam targets kidney donations: A scam circulating on Facebook entices people seeking a kidney donation to provide personal information and payment. The scam uses a link to a website falsely claiming to be part of the National Kidney Foundation. The kidney care community is warning
FelineFandom146 profile image

What category of Intermediate Risk Am I?

I have CKD 3b, and a solitary kidney. I am 6.5 years in remission from UTUC kidney cancer. A number of papers indicate that HT could be detrimental to my kidney. Those with FIR PCa could avoid HT with little risk.
Nordman profile image

Prostate-Kidney and BPH Decision for treatment.

Due to small size of tumor and slow growing nature of kidney cancer the recommendation is to handle the Prostate first then deal with kidney after healed from Prostate treatment. Probably by use of SBRT in order to try and save the kidney.
Seminole0412 profile image

Vasculitis in the pancreas?

All this happened in the last 9 months and we recently found out he is ANCA positive and has begins stages of blood cancer. Doctors think his kidney is ok, and sinuses are too but he is definitely in a flare. Was researching on line and 5-10% of MPA/GPA people have pancreas involvement.
Sandalsforever profile image

test results finally in

Hey, I survied kidney cancer for 11 years, endometral cancer for 10 years..I guess my luck had to run out sooner or later. The good news, if there is any, is that I am stable right now and have been for a few years. ....any good news out there about my situation?
DianeSH profile image

New kidney condition

I am a 77 year old female that recently had my right kidney removed due to cancer. My left kidney activity went from 67 to 30. Not sure what to expect going forward.
memat09 profile image
memat09
in Kidney Disease

High Phosphorus

So my husband is currently incarcerated and is still doing dialysis three times a week. He also has been taking his binders three times a day. Before he was incarcerated his phosphorus levels were normal but his latest blood test result shows that his phosphorus level is a 5.9 he can't exactly have a
amymariepinkie profile image

Potassium

So far I am of the conclusion that: because my potassium is low that my AMLOPIDINE should be replaced with either : A: Inderal B: Hemangeol C: InnoPran D: Monoket E: Imdur
Bloodhound669 profile image

Methotrexate and Nitrofurantoin

Hi everyone hope you’re all well. Just looking for some advice and to see if anyone else been in a similar situation. I have a recurrent UTI that keeps coming back despite multiple antibiotics. I’ve been off Methotrexate on and off because of this so suffering from a dreadful flare. Anyway had a
Froggie70 profile image
Froggie70
in NRAS
Filter results
Posted in
Sort by