Kidney Cancer: Symptoms, Causes and Treatment

The kidneys are two bean-shaped organs located near the middle of your back, just below the ribs. Their primary role is to act as the body’s sophisticated filtration system, processing waste products from the blood and converting them into urine. Kidney cancer, also known as renal cancer, occurs when abnormal cells within these organs begin to divide and grow in an uncontrolled manner.

In the UK, the most common form of the disease is Renal Cell Carcinoma (RCC), which accounts for approximately 80% of cases. While a diagnosis can feel overwhelming, advancements in imaging and surgical techniques mean that many kidney tumours are now caught early, often incidentally during scans for unrelated conditions. At this stage, the disease is highly manageable and often curable. As a Consultant Urological Surgeon seeing patients across Manchester, Cheshire and Macclesfield, Mr Gerald Collins specialises in guiding patients through exactly this kind of diagnosis, from the first scan to full recovery.

Relevant Fact:

Every year, over 9,000 people in the UK are diagnosed with kidney cancer. Due to the increased use of modern imaging like CT scans, many of these cases are discovered when the tumours are small and have not yet caused any outward symptoms.

Symptoms of Kidney Cancer

Kidney cancer often develops silently, particularly in its earliest stages, which is exactly why so many cases are found incidentally rather than through symptoms. However, as a tumour grows, certain “red flag” signs of kidney cancer may emerge. You should book a consultation if you notice:

• Haematuria: Blood in your urine, which may appear pink, red, or the colour of cola.
• Persistent Pain: A dull ache or sharp pain in your side or back (flank) that does not go away.
• A Palpable Mass: A lump or swelling in the kidney area, under the ribs, or occasionally in the neck.
• Systemic Symptoms: Unexplained weight loss, a persistent high temperature, night sweats, or extreme fatigue.

If you notice blood in your urine, it is vital to have it investigated promptly. While it can be caused by infections or stones, it is a primary indicator that requires professional urological assessment.

Are symptoms different for women?

Broadly, no, the warning signs of kidney cancer in females are the same as in men (haematuria, flank pain, fatigue). The main difference is prevalence: kidney cancer is around twice as common in men, which can mean symptoms in women are sometimes attributed to other causes first. If you’re a woman experiencing any of the symptoms above, it’s worth being just as direct with your GP about requesting investigation.

Is Every Kidney Mass Cancerous?

Not necessarily, and this is one of the most common sources of anxiety after an incidental scan finding. A “renal mass” (sometimes called a kidney mass or a growth on the kidney) simply means an area of abnormal tissue has been spotted on imaging; it does not automatically mean cancer. A meaningful proportion of small kidney masses found incidentally turn out to be benign, most often a condition called renal oncocytoma — a non-cancerous growth that can look very similar to a tumour on a scan but behaves completely differently. This is exactly why a proper specialist work-up — rather than assumption in either direction — matters so much once a mass is found.

What Does RCC Mean? Understanding Kidney Cancer Terminology

RCC is the medical abbreviation for Renal Cell Carcinoma, the general term for cancer that starts in the lining of the kidney’s small filtering tubes. You may occasionally see kidney cancer referred to by its older name, hypernephroma. This term has largely fallen out of clinical use but still appears in older literature and patient forums.

RCC itself has several subtypes, identified under the microscope after biopsy or surgery:

• Clear cell RCC — the most common subtype, making up roughly three-quarters of cases.
• Papillary RCC — the second most common type.
• Chromophobe RCC — less common, and generally associated with a favourable outlook.

Knowing the exact subtype matters because it can influence both prognosis and treatment choice, which is one of the reasons a formal biopsy or surgical pathology result is so important before finalising a treatment plan.

Causes & Risk Factors

While the exact cause of most kidney cancers remains unclear, certain factors can increase your risk:

Kidney Cancer vs Kidney Stones and Bladder Cancer

Because haematuria and flank pain are shared symptoms across several urological conditions, it’s very common for patients to search for kidney cancer and end up unsure whether they actually mean kidney stones or bladder cancer. Here’s the distinction:

• Kidney stones vs kidney cancer: Both can cause blood in the urine and flank pain, but kidney stones typically cause sudden, severe, colicky pain that comes in waves, whereas kidney cancer pain (when present at all) tends to be a duller, more constant ache. Imaging is the only reliable way to tell them apart.
• Kidney cancer vs bladder cancer: Both sit within the urinary tract and both can present with haematuria, but they are different diseases affecting different organs, with different treatment pathways. Kidney cancer starts in the filtering tissue of the kidney itself; bladder cancer starts in the lining of the bladder. If you have blood in your urine, your consultant will use scans and sometimes a cystoscopy to establish exactly where it’s coming from before assuming either diagnosis.

Will Kidney Cancer Show Up in a Blood Test?

Not reliably; this is a genuine and important difference from some other urological cancers. There is currently no routine blood test that can confirm or rule out kidney cancer, which is part of why imaging (ultrasound, CT, or MRI) is central to diagnosis. This is different from prostate cancer, where a PSA blood test can act as an initial screening marker. For kidney cancer, blood and urine tests are still useful; they can flag anaemia, kidney function changes, or confirm haematuria, but they cannot diagnose the cancer itself.

The Solution: Treatment pathways

The treatment for kidney cancer is highly personalised, depending on the stage and grade of the tumour. Mr Collins specialises in navigating these complex decisions:

How to Prevent Kidney Cancer?

While you cannot change your genetics, you can take active steps to lower your risk:

1. Stop Smoking: This is the single most impactful change you can make for urological health.
2. Manage Your Blood Pressure: Have your blood pressure checked regularly by your GP. If it is high, manage it through a combination of diet, exercise, and medication.
3. Maintain a Healthy Weight: A diet rich in fruits and vegetables, combined with at least 30 minutes of exercise most days, helps regulate the hormonal and inflammatory markers linked to kidney cancer.
4. Stay Hydrated: While hydration does not directly prevent cancer, it supports overall kidney function and health.

FAQs

Based in Manchester and Cheshire, Mr Gerald Collins is currently accepting private consultations for the assessment of kidney masses, haematuria, and general urological concerns. With 29 years of experience, he provides the clarity and expertise needed to move from uncertainty to a confident treatment plan.