2026-06-29 · 5 min read
A quiet cancer
The kidney sits deep in the abdomen with plenty of room around it, so a tumour can grow for a long time without pressing on anything. That is why more than half of kidney cancers are discovered incidentally during an ultrasound done for an unrelated reason.
Warning signs
Any of the following deserves a proper urological evaluation rather than reassurance.
- Blood in the urine, even once, even painless
- A persistent dull ache in one flank
- A lump felt in the abdomen or side
- Unexplained weight loss or low-grade fever for weeks
- New, hard-to-control high blood pressure in a young person
The good news
Small tumours found early can often be treated with partial nephrectomy, removing only the tumour and preserving the rest of the kidney. Outcomes for small, localised kidney cancer are generally very good, though results always depend on the individual case.
Information on this website is for patient education only and does not replace an in-person consultation. Treatment results vary between individuals and no outcome is guaranteed.