Kidney cancer is cancer that starts in the kidneys. Your kidneys are a pair of bean-shaped, fist-sized organs located behind your abdomen. One sits on each side of your spine.
The kidneys main job is to filter your blood and help the body get rid of excess water, salt and waste products. They also produce hormones that monitor blood pressure and regulate the production of red blood cells.
While each person has two kidneys, it is possible to live with less than even one complete kidney. In fact, some people live without any working kidneys and rely on a process called dialysis, where a machine takes on the job of filtering waste products from the blood.
In adults, the most common type of kidney cancer is renal cell carcinoma, which begins in the lining of the small tubes that make up the kidney. Although renal cell carcinoma typically develops as a single tumor in one kidney, it sometimes affects more than one part of a kidney or even both kidneys. Children are more likely to develop a form of kidney cancer called Wilms’ tumor.
How does kidney cancer occur?
Kidney cancer occurs when abnormal kidney cells grow and divide uncontrollably. The accumulating abnormal cells form a tumor that can extend beyond the kidney. Some cells can break off and spread (metastasise) to distant parts of the body. Even if a person has kidney cancer, their kidneys may still function normally.
What are the types of kidney cancer?
There are several types of kidney cancer. The most common forms include:
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Renal cell carcinoma: Renal cell carcinoma accounts for most kidney cancers. There are several subtypes of renal cell carcinoma, based mainly on how the cancer cells look under a microscope. The most common subtypes are clear cell cancer, papillary cell cancer, and chromophobe renal cell cancer.
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Clear cell cancer: This is the most common form of renal cell carcinoma. According to the American Cancer Society , about 7 out of 10 people with renal cell carcinoma have this type. When seen under a microscope, the cells of this form of cancer look either clear or very pale.
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Papillary cell cancer: This is the second most common subtype. These cancers make little finger-like projections, called papillae, in some, if not most, of the tumor.
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Chromophobe renal cell carcinoma: This subtype accounts for a small number of cases of renal cell carcinoma. The cells of these cancers are also pale, like the clear cells, but are much larger and differ in other ways.
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Transitional cell carcinoma: About 5% to 10% of cancers in the kidney are transitional cell carcinomas. Transitional cell carcinomas don’t start in the kidney itself but rather in the lining of the renal pelvis (where the urine goes before it enters the ureter). People with transitional cell carcinoma often have the same signs and symptoms as people with renal cell cancer – blood in the urine and, sometimes, back pain.
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Wilms tumor: About 5% of all kidney cancers are Wilms tumors. This type of cancer is almost always found in children and is very rare in adults. These mostly develop before age 5.
Kidney cancer often shows no symptoms in its early stages, and appears as the cancer grows. Signs and symptoms may include:
After cancer is diagnosed and staged, your doctor will talk with you about different treatment plans. Your kidney cancer treatment options may include:
While in many cases the cause of kidney cancer is not known, taking steps to improve your health can reduce your risk of developing the disease. These include:
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