If your GP feels your symptoms might suggest kidney cancer, they will refer you to one of our consultant urologists. This will be at either the haematuria clinic or in the main outpatient department at the Freeman Hospital.
The most common symptoms of kidney cancer are blood in your urine and/or pain in your side. Some people experience loss of appetite and weight, and unexplained tiredness. However, kidney tumours can grow to a large size without any symptoms and as a result, many kidney tumours are found while investigating other symptoms.
We run 4 haematuria clinics weekly at the Freeman Hospital. As most of our patients are from the north east, we partner with smaller local hospitals and run clinics at the following sites, so you don’t have to travel far:
- North Tyneside General Hospital
- Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Gateshead
- Wansbeck General Hospital
- Hexham General Hospital
Please contact us for further information about these clinics or ask at one of the hospitals above.
Haematuria clinic
The Haematuria clinic is held in the urology investigation suite at the Freeman Hospital.
If you are referred to see one of our consultant urologists in the Freeman Hospital, this is held in the main outpatient department at the Freeman Hospital.
Tests
To help us find out whether or not you have a kidney tumour, a range of investigations will be carried out including:
- an ultrasound scan of your kidneys which produces a picture using sound waves, takes under 15 minutes and is completely painless.
- a CT x-ray scan to look in detail at the kidneys and surrounding tissues, dye is usually given intravenously during the scan.
You may require a separate appointment for some of these tests.
What happens next
We will discuss your results with you as soon as they are available, and agree on the most appropriate treatment option. This normally takes place at your consultant’s out-patient clinic.
