They give signs and symptoms Kidney cancer These warn people and healthcare providers about its rise in recent years. In the past, the classic three symptoms were flank pain, blood in urine, and a flank mass. Now, the most common symptoms are anemia, tiredness, weight loss, loss of appetite, and fever.
Also, when kidney cancer spreads to other parts of the body (metastasis), it gives early warning signs like cough or bone pain in 30% of patients.
This article covers common kidney cancer symptoms, rare ones, and detailed symptoms for advanced cases.
Common symptoms of kidney cancer
In early kidney cancer, symptoms are usually few. Healthcare providers often rely on lab tests and imaging before full symptoms appear.
Early symptoms of kidney cancer include:-
1. Anemia
It is Anemia currently the most common symptom of kidney cancer, seen in about one third of diagnosed patients.
The kidneys produce a protein called erythropoietin, which stimulates red blood cell production in the bone marrow in a process called erythropoiesis. In kidney cancer, anemia happens due to chronic blood loss through urine.
Some people with kidney cancer might have a high number of red blood cells due to increased erythropoietin from cancer cells in the kidney, called paraneoplastic syndrome. This is a set of symptoms caused by substances and hormones made by cancer cells.
2. Blood in the urine
Blood in urine or Hematuria is a common symptom of kidney cancer. It happens at some point in one out of five people diagnosed with the disease.
The urine can be heavily bloody, called gross hematuria, or the blood might be mild causing only a pink tint, or it may only show up under a microscope in a urine test.
3. Flank pain
Pain can happen in the back, belly, or side and can range from mild to very sharp. So, flank pain without clear injury should always be checked.
About 40% of people with kidney cancer have flank pain at some point during the illness, but now flank pain is less common as a symptom than before.
4. Lump in the flank
A lump in the back, side, or belly is found in many people with kidney cancer during some exams, though it's less common as a first symptom than it used to be.
It's important for healthcare providers to check any lump in the flank area, even if they think it's a common fatty tumor that shows up with age.
5. Unexplained Weight Loss
Unexplained weight loss is a common symptom of kidney cancer. It means losing 5% or more of your body weight over 6 to 12 months without trying, no diet or exercise involved.
Besides kidney cancer, there are serious conditions linked to weight loss, so it’s important to see a healthcare provider if you lose weight without trying.
6. Fatigue
Fatigue is also common in people with kidney cancer. Unlike normal tiredness, cancer fatigue is deep and usually gets worse over time. It doesn’t improve with a good night's sleep or a cup of coffee.
7. Wasting
Wasting, or cachexia, is a syndrome marked by weight loss, loss of appetite, and muscle mass loss. It’s thought to affect about 30% of people diagnosed with kidney cancer.
Besides being a symptom of kidney cancer, wasting is believed to directly cause death in around 20% of cancer patients. It especially needs attention from patients and healthcare providers.
8. Loss of Appetite
Loss of appetite, with or without weight loss or wasting, is a common symptom of kidney cancer. People may notice they don't feel hungry or they get full quickly while eating.
9. Fever
Fever, which is a temperature of 38 or higher, is a common symptom of kidney cancer. The fever can be constant or come and go but often happens without clear signs of infection.
Fever without an obvious cause, or fever of unknown origin, should always lead to a visit to a healthcare provider for proper diagnosis right away.
10. High Blood Pressure
The kidneys produce hormones that play an important role in controlling blood pressure, so it might be High blood pressure Persistent high blood pressure is a symptom of kidney cancer. On the other hand, constant high blood pressure can cause more kidney damage.
11. Swelling in ankles and legs
The kidneys also play a very important role in regulating fluids andelectrolytes in the body. Kidney cancer and other kidney diseases can mess with this balance, leading to fluid retention seen as swelling in feet, ankles, and legs.
12. Flushing
Flushing, or episodes when the skin turns red along with warmth or burning in the face, neck, or limbs, can be a possible symptom of kidney cancer or other types of cancer.
Symptoms of metastatic (spread) cancer
It's also important to know the possible symptoms of metastatic kidney cancer, or kidney cancer that has spread to other parts of the body. These symptoms show up in 20% to 30% of people diagnosed with the disease.
Also, over 30% of people have metastases when diagnosed. Kidney cancer often spreads to the lungs, bones, and brain, and can cause other symptoms too.
Symptoms of metastatic cancer include:
1. Cough
A persistent cough is the most common sign that kidney cancer has spread to the lungs. Other symptoms may include wheezing, coughing up blood, or pain in the chest, shoulder, or back.
2. Shortness of breath
Shortness of breath is a common symptom of kidney cancer, whether it's from metastasis to the lungs or anemia. Early on, breathlessness might happen just with activity and can easily be mistaken for poor fitness, overweight, or aging.
3. Bone pain
Bones are the second most common place for kidney cancer to spread after the lungs. Bone pain from metastases can be severe and usually isn't linked to any injury. Sometimes the first sign of cancer is a fracture in a weak bone area.
Rare symptoms of kidney cancer
There are some other rare but unique symptoms linked to kidney cancer, These rare symptoms include:-
1. Varicocele
Varicocele is an enlarged vein in the scrotum or testicle. Symptoms can include swelling, pain, and testicle shrinkage. Varicocele often happens on the right side and doesn't go away when lying down if linked to kidney cancer.
2. Paraneoplastic symptoms
Paraneoplastic syndromes are symptoms from cancer cells producing hormones or other substances. In kidney cancer, these can cause high blood calcium levels with symptoms like nausea, vomiting, weakness, confusion, and high red blood cell counts.
Complications of Kidney Cancer
There are several complications that can happen because of kidney cancer. Sometimes they happen even before the cancer is diagnosed. But usually, they show up when the tumor is advanced. These symptoms can be caused by the tumor itself or its treatments.
Complications of kidney cancer include:
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Blood in the stool.
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Pleural effusion.
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Pathological fractures.
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High blood pressure.
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High blood calcium levels.
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Increase in red blood cell count.
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Liver failure.
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Treatment complications.
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Kidney failure.
