Kidney (Renal Cell) Cancer

The kidneys are a pair of organs located just above the waist on either side of the backbone. Their job is to filter excess water and waste products from the blood. The water and waste drain from each kidney through a tube called a ureter to the bladder and are eliminated from the body as urine. The kidneys also produce substances that help control blood pressure and formation of red blood cells.


Kidney cancer is a cancer that starts in the kidneys. A kidney can have more than one tumor. Sometimes tumors are found in both kidneys at the same time. Kidney tumors are often found on CT scans or ultrasounds being done for concerns other than kidney cancer. The cancer might be found only after it has become very large. Most of the time it is found before it has spread to other organs. This is good because like most cancers, kidney cancer can be hard to treat after it has spread (metastasized).



Symptoms include:

  • Chronic fatigue
  • Unexplained, rapid weightloss

  • Leg and ankle swelling

  • Hypertension (high blood pressure)

  • Fever

  • Presence of blood in urine (seen either by the eye, or microscopically)

  • Pain in side or lower back

  • Mass or lump in the abdomen