Kidney cancer
Diagnosis and tests
Diagnosing kidney cancer
Your family doctor (GP) will talk to you about your symptoms and may do urine and blood tests. Your GP will refer you to hospital if they think you need more tests. Tests you might have include:
Testing your urine to see if your symptoms are being caused by an infection. If you have cancer there may be cancer cells in your urine.
To check your general health.
A small tube with a light passed into your bladder to look at the bladder lining. This may show the reason for any blood in your urine.
A special type of X-ray to give a picture of the tissues inside your body.
Read more about CT scans.
A scan that uses magnetic energy and radio waves to build up a picture of the tissues inside your body.
Read more about MRI scans.
A device like a microphone passed over your tummy to give a picture of your kidney, bladder and nearby organs. It can show any abnormal changes.
Read more about ultrasound scans.
If you are diagnosed with kidney cancer, we're here for you.
Our cancer nurses are here if you need information or just want to talk. They can help you to understand your diagnosis and what to expect, send you information and tell you about our services.
Further tests for kidney cancer
You may need further tests to give your doctors more information about your general health and about the cancer. For example:
A device like a microphone passed over your tummy to pick up abnormal changes in your kidney, bladder and nearby organs
Read more about ultrasound scans.
A special type of X-ray to give a picture of the tissues inside your body
Read more about CT scans.
This is a scan that uses magnetic energy and radio waves to create a picture of the tissues inside your body.
Read more about MRI scans.
A small tube with a light passed into your bladder to look at the bladder lining
Taking a sample of the kidney tissue using a long thin needle, guided to the right place by a CT or ultrasound scan.
The tests you have can help to:
- Stage your cancer. This means finding out the size and position of the cancer.
- Grade your cancer. Grading describes how quickly the cancer may grow and spread and how it might respond to treatment.
Some tests may be used see how you are responding to treatment.
Waiting for test results
While some results may come back quickly, others may take a few weeks. Waiting for results can be an anxious time. It may help to talk things over with your doctor or nurse or with a relative or close friend. You can also call our Support Line on 1800 200 700 or visit a Daffodil Centre to speak to a cancer nurse.
What are the stages of kidney cancer?
Staging means finding out how big the cancer is and if it has spread to other parts of your body. Staging will help your doctor to plan the best treatment for you.
TNM staging system
The staging system normally used is called TNM. This stands for:
- Tumour (T): How deeply has the tumour has grown into your kidney?
- Node (N): Is there cancer in your lymph nodes?
- Metastasis (M): Has the cancer has spread to other parts of your body?
Number staging
Your doctor often uses this TNM information to give your cancer a number stage – from 1 to 4. A higher number, such as stage 4, means a more advanced cancer. Some stages are further divided into stage A and B.
The cancer is not more than 7cm in size and found only in the kidney. (Also described as T1a–T1b).
The cancer is more than 7cm but found only in the kidney. (Also described as T2).
The cancer has spread into your adrenal gland or the fat around the kidney or nearby large blood vessels but not beyond the fibrous tissue of the kidney. It may also have spread to a nearby lymph node. (Also described as T1a–T3b, N1 or T3a–T3c).
The cancer has spread outside the fibrous tissue surrounding the kidney or to distant parts of your body. Near and distant lymph nodes are affected. (Also described as T4, N0-N1, M0 or any T, N2, M0 or any T, any N, M1).
Knowing the stage and grade of your cancer helps your team to plan the best treatment for you.
What are the grades of kidney cancer?
The grade of a cancer describes tumour cells and gives your doctors an idea of how the cancer will behave. For example, how quickly it might grow and spread. It also helps your doctors to decide if you need more treatment and what the outlook (prognosis) is.
Kidney cancer cells are graded 1 to 4.
Grade 1 means the cancer cells look very like normal kidney cells under the microscope. They grow slowly and are less likely to spread.
At higher grades, the cancer cells start to look more and more abnormal and are more likely to spread quickly.
For more about grades, talk to your doctor. You can also talk to one of our cancer nurses by calling our Support Line on 1800 200 700 or by visiting a Daffodil Centre.
Staging and grading can be hard to understand, so ask your doctor and nurse for more information if you need it.
Continue reading about kidney cancer
Get help & support
Support Line
Free support pack
