Wilms Tumour is a malignant tumour that starts in the cells of the kidney. Malignant means that it can spread, or metastasize, to other parts of the body. Wilms Tumour is the most common type of Kidney Cancer in children.
Wilms Tumour may not cause any signs or symptoms in its early stages because the kidneys are located deep in the body and are not very well supplied with nerves. Therefore, these tumours may grow without causing pain or discomfort. Symptoms appear once the tumour grows into surrounding tissues and organs.
About this cancer
The primary symptoms of Wilms Tumor include:
- A painless mass in the abdomen
- Inflammation in the abdomen
- Blood found in the urine
For more information, visit, The Canadian Cancer Society
According to the Canadian Cancer Society, the following may increase the risk for Wilms tumour.
- WAGR syndrome
- Denys-Drash syndrome
- Simpson-Golabi-Behemel Syndrome
- Frasier syndrome
- Beckwith-Wiedemann Syndrome
- Perlman syndrome
- Bloom syndrome
- Li-Fraumeni syndrome
- Aniridia
- Familial history
For more information, especially on the various syndromes, please refer to The Canadian Cancer Society.
The following may be used to diagnose Wilms Tumour
- A physical examination can help your healthcare provider detect possible features of Wilms tumour.
- Blood and urine tests: blood and urine tests can help your doctor examine how well the kidneys are functioning.
- Imaging tests: Imaging tests like CT scans, ultrasounds, MRIs or chest X-rays, can be used to produce images of the kidneys and help identify whether a child has a tumor in their kidney.
For more information, visit the Mayo Clinic.
Wilms tumour can be treated through
- Surgery
- Chemotherapy
- Radiation therapy
For more information, visit the Mayo Clinic.
Stories from Survivors
Resources
Wilms Tumour Groups
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