Symptoms of Kidney Cancer

Most individuals suffering from kidney cancer remain asymptomatic through the early stages of the disease. Once the disease has progressed, one of the first signs is the appearance of blood in or a reddening of urine.

The Facts

• The National Institute of Cancer estimates that more than 49,000 new cases of kidney cancer will be diagnosed each year, with approximately 22 percent dying from the disease. Most cases of kidney cancer are accidentally diagnosed during testing for other conditions.

Symptoms

• Besides reddening or blood in the urine, pain in the flank, fever and rapid weight loss are the next most common symptoms.

Causes

• Excess erythropoietin produced by cancer cells may trigger high red blood cells counts. This could lead to headaches, fatigue, dizziness or visual confusion. Fatigue and dizziness may also be attributed to anemia, caused when bleeding into the urine lowers red blood cell counts.

Diagnosis

• Doctors use physical examinations, blood and urine tests, and scans or biopsies to confirm symptoms. Sometimes a lump or enlargement of the kidney can be felt around the abdominal area during a physical examination.

Considerations

• Symptoms do not always indicate cancer but may point to other conditions such as a cyst or infection. Nevertheless, it is best to seek medical attention when symptoms occur because kidney cancer tends to spread early to other organs.