En Español (Spanish Version)
by Wood D
Symptoms of Kidney Cancer
If you experience any of these symptoms do not assume it is due to cancer. Most of these symptoms may be caused by other, less serious health conditions. If you experience any one of them, see your physician.
Kidney cancer often begins with no symptoms and no pain. Most cases are detected during an imaging test, such as a
CT scan
, for an unrelated condition.
As the disease progresses, the following symptoms may occur:
Blood in the urine
—The blood may be visible to the eye or detected during a routine lab test.
Lump in the abdomen
—This may be a sign of the growing tumor.
Pain in the side, back, or abdomen
—This may be a symptom if the pain is not a result of an injury.
The following symptoms may also occur, but are less common:
Increased blood pressure
—Kidneys play a role in blood pressure control, therefore disease in the kidneys can affect blood pressure.
Weight loss
—This includes unplanned and substantial loss of weight.
Fever
—This may include an increased temperature for no apparent reason that may come and go.
Swelling in the legs
—Fluid accumulates in the tissue due to the cancerous mass restricting blood flow.
Kidney cancer may also cause a wide variety of other symptoms.
References
American Cancer Society website. Available at:
http://www.cancer.org/docroot/home/index.asp?level=0
.
Bast R, Kufe D, Pollock R, et al, eds.
Cancer Medicine.
5th ed. Hamilton, Ontario: BC Decker Inc; 2000.
Kidney Cancer Association website. Available at:
http://www.kidneycancerassociation.org/
.
National Cancer Institute website. Available at:
http://www.cancer.gov/
.