How to Identify Renal Cell Carcinoma

Renal cell carcinoma is the most common type of kidney cancer that typically affects adults. When renal cell carcinoma is formed, its early symptoms appear mild and are often undetected, or they may even be suspected to be something else. These cancer cells usually remain unseen until they have grown large enough to cause complications--a case that’s considered severe, especially if they have metastasized (spread) around neighboring organs.

Instructions

• 1

  Notice if the color of your urine appears different from normal. About 40 to 50 percent of individuals with renal cell carcinoma experience painless urination of blood, otherwise known as hematuria. Here, urine may appear dark, red or rusty.

• 2

  Observe any existence of flank pain. This pain is felt on one side of the body, between the abdomen and back area. Patients usually complain of constantly having this type of pain. Sometimes the pain can be localized on the side of the abdominal cavity.

• 3

  Palpate or examine your flank area. A palpable mass or lump can possibly be felt on the area between the abdomen and back.

• 4

  Keep an eye on your weight and appetite. Weight loss may be secondary to lack of appetite. But in many cases, such weight loss is often unexplained and unintentional. As a result, patients may look overly thin or may have a haggard, malnourished appearance.

• 5

  Check your temperature. Recurrent fever occurs in about 20 percent of kidney cancer patients.

• 6

  Think about how often you feel tired and weak. Excessive fatigue is typical, which is due to a disturbed balance in the immune system caused by the presence of cancerous cells.

• 7

  Constantly check your blood pressure. Renal cell carcinoma may come with high blood pressure, especially in advanced cases.

• 8

  Refer to your doctor about any signs of anemia. Patients suffering from severe stage of kidney cancer are more susceptible to having anemia.

• 9

  Look or feel if your testes are of normal size. In rare cases, males suffering from renal cell carcinoma may experience enlargement of one testicle (usually on the left side) due to an obstructed testicular vein.