Kidney Cancer

Kidney cancer, also known as renal cancer, is a disease that starts in the kidneys. It happens when healthy cells in one or both kidneys grow out of control and form a tumour. In adults, renal cell carcinoma is the most common type of kidney cancer.

Signs and Symptoms

Many kidney cancers are detected incidentally during imaging for unrelated conditions as early stages often do not cause symptoms. When symptoms are present, they may include:

• Blood in the urine
• Persistent back pain just below the ribs
• Unexplained weight loss
• Fatigue
• Intermittent fever

Clinical Progression

Kidney cancer typically begins as a small tumour that grows larger over time. If not caught early, it can spread (metastasise) to other parts of the body, including the lymph nodes, lungs, bones, liver, or brain.