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Kidney cancer

Overview

Kidney cancer, also called renal cancer, is a cancer that starts in the kidneys.

If you have kidney cancer, you can get support from your specialist team and charities like Kidney Cancer UK and Macmillan Cancer Support.

Testing for kidney cancer usually involves a CT or ultrasound scan, a cystoscopy, or testing a small sample of cells from the kidney.

Anyone can get kidney cancer, but it’s more common in people who are over 60, who smoke, who are overweight or who have high blood pressure.

Kidney cancer is not always preventable. But lifestyle changes like staying a healthy weight or lowering your blood pressure can lower your risk.

Kidney cancer is usually treatable. Treatment depends on the stage and type of kidney cancer, and may include surgery, cryotherapy and medicines.

Kidney cancer does not always have symptoms, but they can include blood in your pee and pain in your lower back or side.

Page last reviewed: 01/01/1970
Next review due: 01/01/1970