Kidney Cancer Symptoms
The kidneys are two organs in the body that filter the blood and remove waste material and excess water by making urine that is expelled as waste. Cancer is the growth of malignant (abnormal) cells within the body. Kidney cancer — also called renal cancer — is a disease in which kidney cells become malignant (cancerous) and grow out of control, forming a tumor. Kidney cancer is one of the top ten most common cancers, and it is most often discovered in men over fifty.
Signs and Symptoms of Kidney Cancer
Unfortunately, kidney cancer rarely causes visible signs or symptoms in its early stages.
- Blood in the Urine – This is the most common symptom of kidney cancer. Doctors call this haematuria. About half of the people diagnosed with kidney cancer will have this symptom when they first go to the doctor. The blood does not have to be there all the time. It can come and go. Sometimes, the blood cannot be seen by the naked eye but can be picked up by a simple urine test. If you ever see blood in your urine, you should go to the doctor. Remember that most people who go to the doctor with blood in their urine don’t have kidney cancer. In most cases, blood in the urine is caused by an infection, enlargement of the prostate, or kidney stones.
- Flank pain – Pain on one side of the body between the upper abdomen and the back.
- Abdominal Mass – a mass in the area of the kidneys discovered during an examination
- Anemia – a condition in which the number of red blood cells is below normal
- Fever – not due to cold or flu
- Unexplained weight loss, often rapid and Loss of appetite
- Fatigue and general feeling of poor health
- A general feeling of poor health
- Night sweats
Consult your doctor immidiately if you have pain or a swelling or lump in your kidney area (on either side of your body, just below your ribcage). You should also see your doctor if you have blood in your urine. Although it’s highly unlikely to be caused by kidney cancer, it could be a symptom of a less serious condition that still requires treatment, such as a kidney stone or bladder stone.
