Kidney Cancer

• Blood in the urine 
• A mass in the abdomen 
• Pain in the lower back or side (just under your ribs), that does not go away 
• Loss of appetite or unexplained weight loss 
• Anaemia (low blood count) 

When to see a doctor 

Make an appointment with your doctor if you experience any signs or symptoms that worry you.

• Quit smoking. If you've never smoked, don't start. 
• Maintain a healthy lifestyle – have a nutritious diet, regular exercise and maintain a healthy weight.
• Control high blood pressure.

• Smoking - smokers have approximately double the risk of non-smokers. 
• Obesity 
• High blood pressure (hypertension) 
• End-stage kidney diseases that require dialysis 
  
• Chronic intake of mild painkillers, such as paracetamol, and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID) such as ibuprofen and aspirin. 
• Family history of kidney cancer. Those who have a family history of kidney cancer have a higher risk. A hereditary form of the disease occurs in a small group of patients due to the presence of faulty genes. Inherited conditions that predispose one to kidney cancer include von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) syndrome, tuberous sclerosis, Birt-Hogg-Dube syndrome, and hereditary non-VHL clear cell and papillary renal cell cancer. 
• Contact with certain chemicals – exposure or contact with chemicals such as aniline dye and heavy metals.

• Ultrasound or Computed Tomography (CT) scan
  - Detailed images of the kidney are taken to show the size, characteristics and extent of spread of the kidney tumour. 
• Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scan
  - A scan that uses strong magnetic fields and radio waves to produce a detailed image of the kidneys. 
• Biopsy
  - Samples of kidney tumour tissue are removed and examined under the microscope to confirm the presence of cancer. 
• Positron Emission Tomography (PET) scan
  - A detailed body scan that can help to investigate confirmed cases of kidney cancer to see if the cancer has spread and how well it is responding to treatment. 
• Cystoscopy
  - Cystoscopy is a test to look at the inside of the bladder. It is usually used for patients who have a kidney tumour and blood in the urine. A cystoscope contains a lens and light system that helps the doctor see the inside of the urethra, prostate and bladder to identify any additional tumours.

• Partial nephrectomy - the tumour is removed with a margin of normal tissue, preserving the rest of the unaffected kidney. Partial nephrectomy is performed either when the tumour is small or if the patient has impaired kidney function or a single kidney left. 
• Radical nephrectomy - the whole kidney including the tumour is removed. Radical nephrectomy is performed when the tumour is large and very close to the blood vessels or ureter. 

• Targeted therapy - drugs that target specific tumour growth pathways in the cancer cell 
• Immunotherapy - drugs that incite the body’s immune response towards the cancer