Wilms tumours

Introduction

Wilms tumours are cancers that grow on one or both kidneys. 

The kidneys are two organs below the ribs, on either side of the spine. 

The kidneys: 

• filter waste from the blood and turn it into urine or wee
• control blood pressure, the force needed to push blood through the body.

Wilms tumours are more common in children under five years. They have a high cure rate when treated by a doctor.

Symptoms of a Wilms tumour will depend on how advanced the cancer is. 

They can include: 

• a lump, swelling, and pain in the belly 
• abnormal or blood-coloured urine or wee 
• constipation - hard poo that is difficult to pass
• loss of appetite 
• fever  
• high blood pressure 
• sweating at nighttime 
• nausea and vomiting.

See your local doctor as soon as possible if you are concerned your child is showing signs of a Wilms tumour.

Your child’s local doctor will try to rule out any other illnesses first. They will:

• take a blood test
• take a medical and family history
• do a physical check and feel the kidneys

Your child will be referred to a cancer specialist, called an oncologist.

The oncologist will be able to check symptoms and diagnose a Wilms tumour using the results from:

• blood tests
• urine tests
• scans to see the kidneys more clearly, including X-ray, ultrasound, CT and MRI 
• biopsy - a procedure where a sample of the tumour is taken out and tested.

Treatment for a Wilms tumour will usually involve: 

• chemotherapy – where a mixture of medications is given to kill cancer cells or stop them from growing
• radiotherapy -    where high-energy X-rays are used to kill cancer cells or stop them from growing, used for Wilms tumours that are advanced
• surgery – to remove the tumour or the affected kidney.

The type of surgery used will depend on how advanced the cancer is. The surgeon will try to only remove the tumour.

Sometimes, the entire kidney needs to be removed. However, it is possible to live with just one kidney.

When the cancer is in both kidneys, the surgeon will try to take out as much of the cancer as possible and keep as much healthy kidney tissue as they can. This is to try and avoid your child needing a kidney transplant.

A kidney transplant is when a damaged or sick kidney is removed and replaced with a healthy kidney donated by another person.

Speak to your child’s doctor if you have any questions about kidney surgery and transplants.