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Kidney cancer is a relatively rare form of cancer that starts in the cells of the kidney. When you or someone close to you has been diagnosed with kidney cancer, it can feel overwhelming. Cancer Council Queensland is here to help you understand the condition and help equip you with information, so you don’t have to go through kidney cancer alone.
Our team is here to listen and support you.
In Queensland, around 800 people are diagnosed with kidney cancer each year. Across Australia, that number is around 4,500 people.
While this may seem like a high number, it makes up only about 2.5% of all cancers, affecting one in 65 by the age of 85. Most of those diagnosed are aged 50–65. Kidney cancer is Australian’s seventh most common cancer.
The most common type of kidney cancer, called renal cell carcinoma (RCC) or adenocarcinoma, begins in the kidney tissue and accounts for about 90% of diagnoses. Generally, a cancerous tumour on the kidney develops in one kidney although, in rare cases, both kidneys can be affected.
When doctors talk about cancer in the kidney, they categorise it as either localised (confined to the kidney) or advanced (spread beyond it). Most localised cases involve only one tumour, but sometimes tumours may multiply within the same area.
If the tumour grows, it may advance (or metastasise) and spread to nearby sites, such as surrounding fatty tissue, veins, adrenal glands, lymph nodes, ureters, or liver. A kidney tumour may also be classed as a secondary cancer, meaning it has started elsewhere in the body and made its way to the kidneys. This is rare and requires a different treatment approach.
The exact cause of kidney cancer is an ongoing area of research. What we do know is that certain factors may increase someone’s risk.
Risk factors include:
It’s important to remember that having any of these risk factors doesn’t mean you’ll develop kidney cancer. These are just guidelines to help you be aware of any increased risk possibilities and to help you find ways to minimise these if possible.
If you’re worried about any of the above risk factors, you can always chat to your GP or call our Cancer Council Queensland team on 13 11 20. We’re always here to help and support you and your family.
Many people miss the early warning signs of kidney cancer, and it’s usually only discovered during tests for unrelated conditions. Knowing the potential signs and what to look for can help with early detection, which may improve your prognosis.
Common symptoms include:
Kidney cancer can impact hormone production, which can lead to various other symptoms, like dizziness, headaches, constipation, abdominal pain, and mood changes. These symptoms occur due to changes in red blood cell count or calcium levels in the blood, which can cause conditions such as anaemia, polycythaemia, or hypercalcaemia.
While it may seem worrying if you experience any of these symptoms, they’re often related to less serious conditions like muscle strains and urinary tract infections. It’s natural to feel concerned, though, and important to rule out more serious conditions, so make an appointment with your GP as soon as possible.
Kidney tumours are often discovered unexpectedly during scans or tests for other unrelated concerns. If your doctor has any concerns, they’ll recommend some tests to understand better what is happening with your health.
The most common diagnostic tests include urine and blood analysis. While these can’t diagnose kidney cancer, they can help assess your overall wellbeing and kidney health and indicate whether further testing is necessary.
If your doctor wants to explore in-depth, they may suggest other advanced testing methods, such as imaging scans, to give a more detailed view of your kidneys and the surrounding tissues.
You may have one or more of the following scans:
Your doctor may also suggest a biopsy, which is a common procedure, involving taking a small tissue sample for testing. You may not need this, though, because modern imagery scans are often enough to diagnose cancerous kidney tumours. Some tests may need to be repeated to confirm a diagnosis, or during or after receiving cancer treatment, to gauge your progress.
Surgery is often the primary cancer treatment and, if this is the case, the removed tumour may be tested to confirm whether it is cancer.
Any suspected cancer diagnosis is a challenging time, and your healthcare team will guide you through each step with care and understanding. We understand that waiting for test results can be stressful but remember you’re not alone. Don’t hesitate to reach out and talk to a loved one, friend, healthcare professional, or our Cancer Council Queensland team on 13 11 20. You don’t need to wait for a diagnosis to reach out for support.
If you’re going through the initial stages of a cancer diagnosis, your healthcare team will create a treatment plan that’s specific to your needs. They’ll consider your overall health and the specifics of your cancer, such as location and whether it has spread.For most people, surgery offers the most favourable path forward. The procedure is called a nephrectomy, and it usually involves removing all or part of the affected kidney.If your tumour is under 4cm, you are unwell, or if your age presents a risk, your medical team may suggest careful monitoring (active surveillance) through regular scans instead of immediate surgery, because surgery can have an effect on your body. If your medical team takes this approach, they will monitor your tumour and if they see changes to the nature or growth, they may suggest going ahead with surgery, or other treatment.Choosing surveillance instead of active treatment might be worrying, but it is sometimes the best course of action, and your medical team will monitor you closely. Don’t hesitate to talk to your doctor if you have any concerns.
Treatments other than surgery include:
Feeling confident and having peace of mind while undergoing treatment can be helpful to your healing. Your doctor and healthcare team are there to help and ensure you understand and feel comfortable with any decision.
When we talk about prognosis, we’re talking about the likely or expected outcome of the disease, although it’s important to remember that not even an expert can predict the exact way a disease will progress.
Your doctor can give you their professional opinion on the likely outcome, treatment options and common issues that may arise if you’re diagnosed with kidney cancer.
Early detection can often mean you have more treatment options and a higher chance of successful outcomes, especially if surgery is possible. When advising you on the most suitable care for your situation, your healthcare team will consider your age, overall health and medical history.
If your cancer has spread beyond your kidney, it may not be possible to remove the entire tumour, but there are still plenty of other treatment options available.
Discussing your prognosis and looking ahead can be a very challenging and overwhelming experience. If would like more information or emotional support, contact your healthcare team, family, friends or our Cancer Council Queensland team on 13 11 20.
In the early stages, cancer in the kidney is typically confined to the affected organ. If it grows, it may spread to nearby organs and structures, such as fatty tissue, veins, adrenal glands, lymph nodes, ureters or the liver. However, in some cases, it can affect distant organs like the lungs, brain, or bones.
People living with end-stage kidney disease may have a higher risk of developing cancer. Careful monitoring by your healthcare team is essential in managing this risk. If you are concerned, talk to your doctor.
No, a cancerous tumour on the kidney can be benign (non-cancerous). Benign tumours include small growths called oncocytoma and angiomyolipoma, and may still require treatment like the treatment you may receive for an early kidney cancer diagnosis. Some benign tumours can be significant in size, but they will not spread to other organs but, depending on their location, they may impact the function of nearby structures due to their size.
About 2–3% of kidney cancers are linked to inherited conditions such as von Hippel–Lindau disease, hereditary papillary RCC, Birt‑Hogg–Dubé syndrome, hereditary leiomyomatosis RCC, tuberous sclerosis, and Lynch syndrome. If you’re concerned about your family history of these conditions, talk to your doctor about your risk.
