Kidney Cancer

Kidney cancer, or renal cancer, occurs when abnormal cells divide and grow in the kidneys. Most patients with kidney cancer require surgery to remove the tumor.

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The kidneys are two organs located toward the middle to lower part of the back. They are responsible for filtering waste from blood and producing urine.

Clear cell renal cell carcinoma and papillary renal cell carcinoma are the two most common types of kidney cancer. These cancers both start in the cells in the kidneys, form tumors, and can spread to other parts of the body.

Some tumors that are not cancer may grow in the kidneys. These tumors, called benign tumors, don’t spread to other parts of the body the way cancer does, but they can still harm your kidneys and should be removed, just like cancerous tumors.

Collaborative, multidisciplinary kidney cancer care

At University of Iowa Health Care Holden Comprehensive Cancer Center, we have a team of specialists who focus only on cancers of the urinary system, including kidney cancer. They study, diagnose, and treat these cancers every day, so they have a deep understanding of the best techniques and most recent advances in caring for these cancers.

Your kidney cancer care team has surgical oncologists, medical oncologists, radiologists, pathologists, pharmacists, genetic counselors, nurses, and others, all working together to tailor a care plan for you—including your life after treatment.

Advanced surgical techniques for kidney cancer

Holden’s kidney cancer surgeons offer you the best options available for kidney cancer surgery, including robot-assisted partial nephrectomy, a highly specialized surgery that removes tumors without removing the kidney.

Risk factors for kidney cancer

The cause of kidney cancer is not known. Kidney cancer is more common in adults over age 55 and men are twice as likely as women to get kidney cancer.

Other risk factors of kidney cancer include:  

Being overweight

Smoking

A family history of kidney cancer or inheriting certain genes from your parents

Having advanced kidney disease, especially if it requires you to get dialysis treatments

Signs and symptoms of kidney cancer

Because your kidneys are deep inside your body, small tumors in them are not always noticeable. Tumors may not cause symptoms that are easy to see or feel until the cancer has grown and started to spread. Many times, people learn they have kidney cancer after they have a test for some other condition.

Common symptoms of kidney cancer include:

Fatigue or tiredness that keeps coming back

Fever

A mass or lump on your side, near your rib cage

Pain in the lower back that doesn’t go away

Weight loss that you didn’t expect

The most common symptoms of kidney cancer are also symptoms of other conditions that aren’t cancer. Experiencing these symptoms doesn’t always mean you have kidney cancer, but you should still discuss with your provider.

How kidney cancer is diagnosed

In addition to reviewing your health history and family history, and completing a physical exam, your provider may perform the following tests to determine if you have kidney cancer: 

Blood and liver function tests. Blood sample is used to measure the levels of certain substances, like liver enzymes, in your blood. If these levels are higher or lower than normal, it can be a sign that something isn’t working as it should in your body or that the cancer has spread.

Urine test. These tests check the color and contents of urine, such as protein, red blood cells and white blood cells.

Computed tomography (CT). These scans can help your provider see the exact size and position of your tumor.

Abdominal ultrasound or endoscopic ultrasound. Ultrasounds use sound waves to help your provider detect the location of tumors.

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). These scans can help your provider see the exact size and position of your tumor. Your provider can also use this to determine if the cancer has spread to other parts of the body.

Biopsy. This test involves taking a sample of your tumor and viewing it under a microscope to see if any cancer cells are present.

Cancer patient in hallway at Holden Comprehensive Cancer Center

Every cancer diagnosis is unique.

That’s why getting a second opinion matters. Our cancer experts can confirm your diagnosis and help you understand all your treatment options.

Learn more about getting a second opinion

Treatments for kidney cancer

The most common kidney cancer treatment is surgery to remove the tumor.

In some cases, the only choice is surgery to remove the entire kidney to get rid of the cancer. Most people can live a normal life with one kidney. This procedure is called a radical nephrectomy.

If the tumor is small enough, or if it’s on the outer edge of the kidney, a partial nephrectomy can be a better option. A partial nephrectomy is the removal of only the part of the kidney with the tumor in it. A partial kidney will continue to work just as well, or almost as well, as the full kidney did. A partial nephrectomy is an advanced procedure that must be performed by a surgeon with special training.

Clinical trials give you the opportunity to receive the most recent, advanced treatment options, such as drugs that are not yet on the market and other promising treatments that could increase your chances for recovery and improve your quality of life. Our kidney cancer specialists are also researchers who are working to find new treatments for kidney cancer.