# Care pathway for renal cancer On this page you will find information about the different stages of examinations and treatment of renal cancer at HUS. ## [ From symptoms to diagnosis ](#from-symptoms-to-diagnosis) ## [ Getting a diagnosis ](#getting-a-diagnosis) ## [ Treatments ](#treatments) ## [ After treatments ](#after-treatments) ## [ Support and information ](#support-and-information) ## From symptoms to diagnosis Primary health care ### A symptom appears or an abnormal finding is made --- A large proportion of renal cancers are discovered by chance in connection with examinations, such as ultrasound or computed tomography scans, when investigating other diseases. Sometimes renal cancer can be found when examining hematuria or a vague pain on the patient’s flank or back. The detected cancer is often in its early stages and curable by surgery. ### Required additional examinations in primary health care and a physician’s assessment --- When renal cancer is suspected, the usual first-stage examinations performed in primary health care are a urine sample and blood testing. The cause of the symptoms is also often determined by ultrasound or computed tomography. ### A physician writes a referral --- If abnormalities are detected during the examinations, the physician will refer you to HUS. ## Getting a diagnosis Comprehensive Cancer Center and other specialized medical care ### The referral arrives at specialized medical care and an invitation is sent to the patient --- When your referral arrives at HUS, a physician will review your situation, plan the necessary additional examinations, and give a treatment recommendation. After this, you will receive an invitation to the outpatient clinic. ### If necessary, additional examinations can be carried out --- On the basis of computed tomography, the physician will receive additional information prior to the surgery about the size of the tumor, penetration through the renal capsule and possible metastases. Most kidney tumors can be classified as benign or malignant using computed tomography. We get definitive information about the type of the tumor with a biopsy. A biopsy is taken through the skin of the abdomen or back with the help from modern imaging studies. In the case of a clearly benign tumor, the situation can be monitored and sampling and surgery can be considered in case any changes occur in the tumor. ### Appointment with a physician and a nurse --- At the appointments with the physician and nurse, we will review your examination results, overall situation, and treatment plan. At the nurse’s appointment, you will receive more information about the practical implementation of treatment, adverse effects, and possible supportive therapies. ## Treatments Specialized medical care ### Treatment begins --- Local renal cancer is a cancer that is limited to the kidney or nearby lymph nodes. Its primary form of treatment is open or keyhole surgery performed under general anesthesia, in which one kidney or part of a kidney is removed. If the cancer has not spread outside the kidney, you do not need medication or radiation therapy in addition to the surgery. Most renal cancers discovered by chance are curable by surgery. ### Healing and follow-up --- The frequency and duration of follow-up for renal cancer depend on how high the risk of metastases is estimated to be by the physician. With localized renal cancer, we will usually continue to monitor you for two to five years. Most cancer recurrences occur during this period. The risk of metastases is low if the tumor has been small and localized and no metastases have been found in the lymph nodes. ### If the disease recurs or treatments do not help --- In the treatment of renal cancer that has recurred or has already spread when diagnosed, we aim to slow down the disease as effectively as possible. As treatments, we use drug treatments in tablet form or, if possible, immunological treatments. [At the Clinical Trial Unit](/en/patient/hospitals-and-other-units/comprehensive-cancer-center/clinical-pharmaceutical-research-unit "Clinical Trial Unit, Comprehensive Cancer Center") we offer an increasing number of patients the opportunity to be among the first to receive new research treatments. [ Read more on the treatment of metastatic renal cancer ](/en/patient/treatments-and-examinations/cancer/care-pathway-renal-cancer/treatment-metastatic-renal) ### Palliative care and psychosocial support --- Good palliative care and psychosocial support are an integral part of cancer treatment. The Palliative Care Center provides help in the stressful life situation caused by the cancer treatments. We help treat difficult symptoms and offer conversational support. A decision on palliative, i.e. symptomatic, treatment is made when the focus of your treatment shifts from slowing down the progression of cancer to managing the symptoms. In this case, treatment aims to alleviate symptoms and, as far as possible, to ensure a good and active life with the illness until death. Typically, at this stage, your care responsibility is transferred to the palliative care unit or to the palliative outpatient clinic or a hospital-at-home unit in your area. [ Read more about the Palliative Care Center ](/en/patient/hospitals-and-other-units/comprehensive-cancer-center/palliative-center-comprehensive) ## After treatments ### Follow-up in specialized medical care ends --- Your follow-up at HUS usually ends after five years if your illness has not recurred. ## Support and information Getting cancer is a big life change. Here you will find information and support for living with the disease. ### [ Support during cancer treatment ](/en/patient/treatments-and-examinations/support-during-cancer-treatment) Here you can find discussion help and support for rehabilitation for cancer patients.  ### [ Instructions and additional information for cancer patients ](/en/patient/treatments-and-examinations/cancer/instructions-and-additional-information-cancer-patients) Here you will find our patient guide and more information about cancer treatments.  Updated: 10.10.2024