Symptoms
- Blood in urine
- Persistent flank pain
- A lump in the abdomen
- Unexplained weight loss or fever
- Often no symptoms at all in early disease
Causes and risk factors
- Genetic mutations in kidney cells
- Inherited syndromes in a small proportion
Diagnosis
- Contrast CT of the abdomen
- MRI in selected cases
- Chest imaging for staging
- Kidney function assessment
Treatment
- Partial nephrectomy to preserve the kidney
- Radical nephrectomy
- Active surveillance for very small tumours
- Targeted therapy or immunotherapy for advanced disease
Prevention
- Stop smoking
- Maintain a healthy weight
- Control blood pressure
- Get an ultrasound if you have persistent urinary symptoms
Recovery
After laparoscopic surgery, hospital stay is typically three to five days and normal activity returns in three to four weeks. Follow-up scans continue for at least five years.
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.