Although heredity (family history) accounts for 4-6% of cases of kidney tumours, there is no single risk factor that leads to Kidney tumours. The risk factors are:

• Regular cigarette smoking
• Unhealthy diet
• Drinking less water
• Obesity
• Hypertension
• Inhaling polluted air or drinking contaminated water
• Old age
• People with inherited syndromes like Von Hippel-Lindau disease, Birt-Hogg-Dube syndrome, tuberous sclerosis complex, hereditary papillary renal cell carcinoma, or familial renal cancer are at greater risk

Many patients do not have signs or symptoms in the early stages. Physicians generally identify Kidney tumours during abdominal imaging tests while diagnosing some other health condition. However, gradually, the signs and symptoms of cancer appear, such as:

• Hematuria (a condition where there is blood in the urine); the urine may appear red, pink, or cola-coloured
• Pain in the lower back that does not go away
• A lump in the lower back or side of the waist
• Unexplained weight loss
• Sweating at night
• Fever and fatigue
• Low RBC production that results in anaemia.

A physician diagnoses a Kidney tumour by physically examining a patient and reviewing his/her medical history. The physician will also study the blood and urine test reports. The imaging tests carried out to diagnose Kidney tumours include:

• Computed tomography (CT) scans to analyse the spread of cancer.
• Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans.
• Ultrasound to identify fluid-filled cyst or a solid tumour.

In rare cases, the physician may biopsy a small piece of the kidney. The test involves removing a small sample piece from the kidney with a needle and testing it for cancer cells.

Apart from the imaging tests, the following kidney function tests are carried out:

• Urinalysis and serum creatinine levels test
• Complete blood count

A positive diagnosis for Kidney tumours leads the physician to conduct clinical tests to determine the tumour stage. It is crucial to know the tumour’s stage as the treatment and management depend on it. The greater the stage, the worse is the condition.

There are four stages of Kidney tumours, namely:

• Stage 1: The tumour is small (7 cm in length) and is found only in the kidney. The tumour is least aggressive.
• Stage 2: The tumour is large (> 7 cm in length) and is present in the kidney.
• Stage 3: The tumour can be of any size. It is found in the kidney as well as in one or more of the nearby lymph nodes.
• Stage 4: The tumour has spread across many organs or distant metastases. This stage of the tumour is highly aggressive.

The treatment of Kidney tumours largely relies on the stage of the disease, age of the patient, and other health conditions. The general treatment methods are:

1. Surgery: One of the most common methods deployed in treating kidney tumours includes surgery. Patients in stages 1, 2, and 3 generally undergo surgery. A physician can adopt traditional, laparoscopic, or robotic methods for the surgery. During surgery, if only the tumour or part of the tumour covering the kidney is removed, it is called a Partial Nephrectomy. If the surgery results in complete removal of the kidney and the surrounding tissues and lymph nodes, it is called Radical Nephrectomy.
2. Thermal Ablation: Patients whose condition does not allow them to go for a nephrectomy generally undergo thermal ablation. The tumour is killed by burning or freezing. However, this treatment method is feasible only for small tumours.
3. Active Surveillance: If the tumor is less than 4 cm, active surveillance is useful. It involves regular monitoring and testing of a patient’s condition. As the tumour is small, the chances are that it may not be cancerous.
4. Treatment with medicines: When cancer is not limited to the kidneys and has spread across the entire body, making surgery impractical, the patient undergoes treatment with medicines.  Immunotherapy, anti-angiogenic therapies, targeted therapies, chemotherapy, and radiation are some of the treatment methods.

Patients should follow the following steps to reduce the risk of Kidney cancer:

• Avoid smoking and chewing tobacco
• Exercise regularly and maintain a healthy weight
• If you work in an industry dealing with toxins like cadmium, asbestos, and trichloroethylene, you must wear proper gear and avoid inhaling these substances
• Visit your doctor every six months for a health checkup. Simple blood and urine test can identify a kidney disease
• ● Avoid long-term use of NSAIDs (Non-Steroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs)
• Control diabetes and hypertension
• Drink enough water daily.