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This page/column contains information which may be of interest to consumers. The information is based on articles which appear in Australian Prescriber. As Australian Prescriber is written for health professionals, you should discuss any issues raised by this page/column with your doctor or pharmacist. They will be able to give a more detailed answer to your questions by reading the main article.

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Australian Prescriber Vol. 29 No. 6 2006

Kidney cancer

Kidney cancer can cause bleeding into the urine. It may also cause pain, but sometimes there are no symptoms.

Although a kidney cancer may have no symptoms it can already have spread to other parts of the body. The usual treatment is to have the kidney removed, but this may not stop the cancer.

Several new treatments are being tested. They work by stopping the growth of the blood vessels which feed the cancer. While some patients have responded to these medicines, it is too early to know if they will prolong life.