If you think you have symptoms of kidney cancer go to see your GP as soon as possible.

GPs in the UK have guidelines to help them decide if symptoms could be due to a cancer. If a cancer is suspected you should be seen by a specialist within two weeks.

In England and Wales

The guidelines suggest an urgent appointment (within two weeks) should be made for anyone:

• with blood that can be seen in their urine
• who is over 50 and has tiny amounts of blood in their urine (invisible to the naked eye)
• who has a lump in one of their kidneys that can be felt by their doctor
• with a lump in one of their kidneys that shows up on an x-ray, CT, MRI or ultrasound scan.

In Scotland

An urgent referral to be seen within two weeks should be considered for anyone who has:

• blood that can be seen in their urine
• a lump in one of their kidneys that can be felt by their doctor
• a lump in one of their kidneys that shows up on an x-ray, CT, MRI or ultrasound scan

The guidelines also say that a non-urgent referral should be made if on three separate occasions a urine test finds traces of blood in someone's urine. And, there isn't another cause for this such as a urine infection, known kidney stones or bleeding during a woman's period.

In Northern Ireland

The guidelines suggest an urgent appointment should be made for anyone:

• with blood that can be seen in their urine
• over 50 years of age with tiny amounts of blood in their urine (invisible to the naked eye) that can't be explained by another cause e.g. urine infection.
• over 40 years of age, who has traces of blood in their urine associated with a urine infection that keeps coming back
• who has a lump in one of their kidneys that can be felt by their doctor
• with a lump in one of their kidneys that shows up on an x-ray, CT, MRI or ultrasound scan.

The symptoms mentioned in these guidelines can have other causes, and many people who go for urgent referrals turn out not to have cancer. But, if you develop any of these symptoms, you should see your GP. They can discuss them with you and if necessary, arrange an appointment with a specialist for you.

References:

• Referral guidelines for suspected cancer. NICE 2005.
• Scottish referral guidelines for suspected cancer 2007.
• Northern Ireland referral guidelines for suspected cancer. NI Cancer Network Board 2007.