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Signs & Symptoms of Renal Cell Carcinoma

Renal cell carcinoma, also known as kidney cancer, is a type of cancer that affects the small tubes within the kidneys. While it typically affects men in post-middle age, it could, in theory, affect anyone,l since the cause of the disease is not yet known. Even so, there are a few things that have been shown to make one more likely to develop this rare form of cancer, including having someone else in your family who has had it; smoking; and undergoing dialysis. Treatment is possible, but as always, it's best if the disease is caught early. Certain symptoms could be warning signs of renal cell carcinoma.

  1. Pain

    • Experiencing pain in your abdomen, back or thighs could be an indication of this form of cancer. The back and sides--where the kidneys are located--would be the primary location in which you'd experience pain, so this acts as the biggest indicator that something is wrong. Of course, only in conjunction with other symptoms is a cancer diagnosis likely.

    Abdominal Swelling

    • People with renal cell carcinoma also report having a swollen abdomen. The area might look enlarged and feel full, as though there's pressure built up inside.

    Abnormal or Bloody Urine

    • If your urine starts to look different, you should probably see your doctor. Abnormal urine is typically darker than usual, or even brown or a reddish brown color. Blood in the urine is another sign that something is amiss--if not with your kidneys, then with your urinary tract in general.

    Weight Loss

    • People with renal cell carcinoma can also experience dramatic weight loss without changing their lifestyle or dietary habits. Those diagnosed could lose more than 5 percent of their body weight and appear malnourished. Because of this weight loss, sufferers tend to report being cold all the time, and they often look very pale.

    Constipation

    • Constipation, when experienced along with other symptoms, is another indicator of renal cell carcinoma. With such an organ-level problem like this form of cancer, difficulty in digestion is common.

    Testicular Vein Enlargement

    • If you are a man, you might experience the swelling or enlargement of veins around one of your testicles. Your entire urinary tract would likely suffer due to your renal cell carcinoma, so this outward manifestation could be your body's way of telling you something's wrong.

    Abnormal Female Hair Growth

    • Women with renal cell carcinoma sometimes report experiencing abnormal hair growth. This could include anything from growing hair faster than before, or in places where it's never grown before, like on the face or chest.

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