About this page. This is a plain English summary of kidney cancer. It does not replace medical advice from your own doctor or specialist.
For full information and references, please read the detailed page.
What is kidney cancer?
The kidneys are two bean-shaped organs that sit at the back of the abdomen, one on each side, around the level of the lower ribs. They filter blood, make urine, and help control blood pressure.
Kidney cancer (also called renal cell cancer) is a growth in the kidney. It is not especially common, and it is slightly more common in men than in women.
How kidney cancer is usually found today
These days most kidney cancers are found by accident: someone has a scan (often an ultrasound or CT) for another reason, such as tummy pain, and a small lump in the kidney shows up.
The classic older symptoms (pain in the loin, a lump you can feel, blood in the urine) are now much less common.
Sometimes a kidney cancer can also cause unusual changes in blood test results, like high blood pressure, raised haemoglobin, high blood sugar, or abnormal liver tests. These usually return to normal after the cancer is removed.
Staging: working out the size and spread
Once a kidney cancer is found, the next step is to check whether it has spread anywhere else. This is called staging. It usually involves:
- A CT scan.
- A chest x-ray.
- Some blood tests.
Surgery: keeping the kidney whenever possible
One of the most important principles in modern kidney cancer surgery is this: where possible, take out only the cancer and a rim of normal kidney, rather than the whole kidney.
This is called a partial nephrectomy ("nephrectomy" means removing kidney). It matters because:
- Men and women who lose a whole kidney have a higher chance of needing dialysis or developing kidney failure later in life.
- Cure rates are similar whether the surgeon removes a part of the kidney or the whole kidney.
Three surgical approaches
- Partial nephrectomy (wedge removal). For smaller tumours. Can be done open, by keyhole, or with the help of a robot. Robotic surgery can help with more complex tumours because the instruments bend.
- Whole kidney removal (radical nephrectomy). For larger tumours where keeping kidney tissue is not possible. The keyhole approach is generally considered the standard, with shorter hospital stay and less pain than open surgery.
- Open thoraco-abdominal surgery. Reserved for very large tumours that grow upwards into the main vein returning blood to the heart. Recovery from this larger operation is usually surprisingly good.
Dr Kooner was one of the first urologists in Australia to perform laparoscopic (keyhole) removal of kidney cancers and presented that work at the Australian national urology conference.
When the cancer has already spread
Kidney cancers behave in interesting ways. Several newer medical treatments are now available that can help even when the cancer has spread. These are usually given by a medical oncologist, sometimes alongside surgery.
Important things to know
- Not every lump in the kidney is cancer. Some are simple cysts. Imaging usually tells the difference.
- If a kidney tumour is found, it is reasonable to ask: "Can I keep part of the kidney?" Whenever possible, the answer should be yes.
- Surgery (open, keyhole, or robotic) carries general risks: bleeding, infection, blood clots, and anaesthetic risks. The right approach depends on tumour size and location, your other health, and surgeon experience.
- Even after a successful operation, regular follow-up scans are usually needed for several years to check both kidneys and the rest of the body.
- Advanced kidney cancer is now a different conversation than it was 20 years ago. New medical treatments mean it is worth getting a full assessment, even if the cancer has spread.
What you can do next
- Read the full detailed page with references and patient brochures.
- Short version hub for plain English versions of other pages.
- Request a second opinion on a kidney tumour or scan result.
- Call 02 8382 6980 to make an appointment.