A lump or mass in the kidney area
Most kidney cancers are too small to feel, if you feel a lump or swelling in the area of your kidneys, you need to go straight to your doctor. Most kidney cancers are too small for you or a doctor to feel. But it is possible to do an ultrasound scan of the kidneys to check for cancer.
Blood in the urine
This is the most common symptom of kidney cancer. Doctors call this haematuria. About half of the people diagnosed with kidney cancer will have this symptom when they first go to the doctor.
Sometimes the blood cannot be seen by the naked eye but can be picked up by a simple urine test. If you ever see blood in your urine, you should go to the doctor. Most people who have blood in the urine do not have kidney cancer. In most cases it is caused by an infection, enlargement of the prostate, or kidney stones.
- See your physician right away if you notice blood in your urine
In most cases, blood in the urine does not mean you have kidney cancer. Blood in the urine can be a sign of many conditions, including kidney stones, prostate problems, urinary tract infections or a non-cancerous cyst on the kidney. It is important that you determine the cause of it as soon as possible by discussing your symptoms and concerns with your doctor.
In addition to a medical history and physical exam, diagnostic tests include blood and urine studies; imaging tests including ultrasound and computerized tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI); a cystoscopy to provide a view of the bladder, urethra and kidneys; and a biopsy.
If cancer is found, these tests also help to determine the cancer’s stage – whether it is confined to the kidney, has spread to surrounding tissue or a nearby lymph node, or has moved to distant parts of the body.
Remember that most people who go to the doctor with blood in their urine don't have kidney cancer. In most cases, blood in the urine is caused by an infection, enlargement of the prostate, or kidney stones. Even so, a doctor should always investigate blood in the urine. As the bleeding can come and go, both the doctor and patient may get the impression that the problem has gone away. This can mean that an early, treatable cancer in the kidney or bladder is allowed to grow to a stage where it may be more difficult to treat.
Other possible kidney cancer symptoms may include:
- Abdominal Mass - a mass in the area of the kidneys discovered during an examination
- Anemia - a condition in which the number of red blood cells is below normal
- Fatigue and general feeling of poor health
- Fever - not due to cold or flu
- Flank pain - Pain on one side of the body between the upper abdomen and the back.
- Unexplained weight loss, often rapid