Kidney cancer is very rare in children. When it happens, Wilms tumor, also called nephroblastoma, is the most common type. Children can also develop congenital mesoblastic nephroma and renal cell carcinoma.

Here’s an overview of how kidney cancer can affect children from early symptoms through diagnosis and even years after treatment is complete.

How Is Kidney Cancer Diagnosed in Children?

To diagnose kidney cancer, doctors need to run several tests and obtain imaging. They’ll need to learn more about your child’s risk factors, check their kidney function, and test suspicious masses for cancer cells.

Medical History

Before making a diagnosis, your child’s doctor will ask about your child’s medical history. They’ll want to know when their symptoms started and if anything else could be causing them.

Some forms of childhood kidney cancer run in families. It’ll be helpful to know if any close relatives have had kidney cancer or certain genetic conditions. Certain genetic conditions increase the risk of kidney cancer.

Blood and Urine Tests

Blood and urine tests can show signs of kidney damage that aren’t visible to the naked eye. The kidneys are responsible for filtering waste from the blood into the urine.

Blood tests for kidney cancer measure:

• The number of red and white blood cells
• Kidney function
• Electrolyte levels (like sodium and calcium)

If the urine has high levels of protein, blood, or sugar, there may be a problem. Abnormal test results may point to kidney cancer or other issues like kidney disease or diabetes. All results need to be discussed with your child’s health care provider.

Imaging Studies

Imaging scans can provide information about suspicious kidney masses. An ultrasound shows if the growth is a solid tumor.

Additional imaging studies, including computed tomography (CT scan) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), can offer more details on the size of the mass and whether it’s spread to other parts of the body.

Biopsy

Doctors can also test the cells of the suspicious mass to see if it’s a kidney tumor. This test is called a biopsy. It’s usually the final required step to diagnose kidney cancer. In some cases, though, if your child’s provider thinks it’s best to remove the entire growth or the kidney, doctors may test the tumor after surgery instead.

Treatment for Childhood Kidney Cancer

Treatment options for pediatric kidney cancer depend on several factors. Treatment plans may be based on the type of kidney cancer, whether it’s spread to other areas, and your child’s age and overall health.

Here are some basics on how kidney cancer is usually managed in children.

If One Kidney Has Tumors

Childhood kidney cancers are often treated with surgery. If one kidney is cancer-free, doctors may remove the cancerous kidney completely. Surgical removal of the kidney is called a nephrectomy. Fortunately, children can live a healthy life into adulthood with one working kidney.

If Both Kidneys Have Tumors

If there’s cancer in both kidneys, surgeons can remove the cancerous part of the kidneys (partial nephrectomy) while preserving the healthy tissue. Pediatric oncologists (childhood cancer specialists) may also use chemotherapy or radiation therapy. These treatments can be given before or after the procedure to make tumors easier to remove or to prevent them from spreading or coming back.

Clinical Trials

Other treatments may be available through clinical trials. Clinical trials can give people with cancer the chance to access new therapies that aren’t available on the market. They also help advance cancer research for others.

Clinical trials have specific requirements for who can participate. They’re usually held at large cancer centers that you may need to travel to. Your child’s oncologist can let you know if any current trials might be a good fit.

What’s the Child Kidney Cancer Survival Rate?

Survival rates from childhood cancer have drastically improved in recent years due to advances in diagnosing and treating pediatric cancers.

Wilms tumors are the most common kidney cancer in young children.

Fortunately, Wilms tumors are considered highly curable. The five-year survival rate is over 90 percent for children diagnosed with less aggressive Wilms tumors. Getting diagnosed early (before age 10) is linked to better outcomes.

Your child’s care team can provide individual expectations based on the type of kidney cancer and how it’s progressing and responding to treatment. Each child’s condition is unique.

Risk of Complications in Adulthood

Treatments for childhood kidney cancer can have long-term side effects. Studies suggest that children who have had cancer treatment are much more likely to have hypertension (high blood pressure) and impaired kidney function later in life. Children with Wilms tumors have a higher risk of developing kidney failure by age 40.

Some of these risks can be lowered with lifestyle choices, such as:

• Avoiding medications that harm the kidneys (including some over-the-counter meds)
• Drinking plenty of water
• Limiting caffeine
• Staying physically active

Ongoing Monitoring

If your child has recovered from kidney cancer, they’ll still need follow-up care to watch for possible late effects. Their healthcare provider can decide how often they should follow up and get checked for recurrence (to see if cancer has returned).

Children who have one kidney also need regular monitoring to ensure normal blood pressure and kidney function. This may be part of their annual physical or through specialist appointments with a nephrologist (kidney specialist).

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