Kidney cancer most often spreads to the lungs and bones, but it can also go to the brain, liver, ovaries, and testicles. Because it has no symptoms early on, it can spread before you even know you have it.
Kidney cancer usually doesn't have signs or symptoms in its early stages. In time, signs and symptoms may develop, including: Blood in your urine, which may appear pink, red or cola colored. Pain in your back or side that doesn't go away.
Screenings help doctors determine if the cancer has spread. CT scans and MRI screenings are especially useful in helping doctors diagnose kidney cancer. Chest X-rays and bone scans can determine whether the cancer has spread to other parts of your body.
Table 1. Based on the model, the average growth rate of kidney tumors in the study was 2.13 cm/year (SD 1.45 cm/year, range 0.2–6.5 cm/year).
A CT scan can help doctors find cancer and show things like a tumor's shape and size. CT scans are most often an outpatient procedure. The scan is painless and takes about 10 to 30 minutes.
Blood and urine tests.A urine test may be recommended to look for blood, bacteria, or cancer cells. These tests may suggest that kidney cancer is present, but they cannot be used to make a definite diagnosis.
The 5-year survival rate for people with kidney cancer is 75%. However, survival rates depend on several factors, including the type, cell type, and stage of the cancer when it is first diagnosed. About two-thirds of people are diagnosed when the cancer is located only in the kidney.
About half of all patients with renal cell cancer will have blood in their urine. If the patient has transitional cell carcinoma (in the renal pelvis, the ureter, or the bladder), sometimes a special test of the urine sample (called urine cytology) will show actual cancer cells in the urine.
Because kidney cancer cells usually do not respond well to chemo, chemo is not a standard treatment for kidney cancer. Some chemo drugs, such as cisplatin, 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), and gemcitabine have been shown to help a small number of patients.
About Kidney CancerIf the cancer is not removed, it can interfere with the function of the organ and spread to other tissue and organs. When detected early, kidney cancer is curable most of the time. Even in more advanced stages, new therapies and procedures have led to much improved, overall cure rates.
Complete blood count (CBC).This common blood test measures the amount of various types of blood cells in a sample of your blood. Blood cancers may be detected using this test if too many or too few of a type of blood cell or abnormal cells are found. A bone marrow biopsy may help confirm a diagnosis of a blood cancer.
Kidney cancer is most often treated with surgery, targeted therapy, immunotherapy, or a combination of these treatments. Radiation therapy and chemotherapy are occasionally used. People with kidney cancer that has spread, called metastatic cancer (see below), often receive multiple lines of therapy.
Some kidney masses are benign (not cancerous) and some are malignant (cancerous). One in four kidney masses are benign. Smaller masses are more likely to be benign. Larger masses are more likely to be cancerous.
Symptoms of kidney cancer can include:
- Blood in the urine (a condition called hematuria).
- A lump or mass in the kidney area.
- Pain in the side.
- Tiredness.
- A general sense of not feeling well.
- Loss of appetite and/or weight.
- Low-grade fever.
- Bone pain.
Renal cancers have been reported to metastasize to the eye and the orbit. As these tumors can be confused with other amelanotic or vascular tumors, a high index of suspicion is required for early detection and management of the primary tumor.
Although there is no proven way to completely prevent this disease, you may be able to lower your risk by: Quitting smoking. Lowering blood pressure. Maintaining a healthy body weight.
The most common reason a urologic surgeon performs a nephrectomy is to remove a tumor from the kidney. These tumors are usually cancerous, but they can be noncancerous (benign). Sometimes a nephrectomy is needed because of other kidney diseases.
Some possible signs and symptoms of kidney cancer include:
- Blood in the urine (hematuria)
- Low back pain on one side (not caused by injury)
- A mass (lump) on the side or lower back.
- Fatigue (tiredness)
- Loss of appetite.
- Weight loss not caused by dieting.
- Fever that is not caused by an infection and that doesn't go away.
But metastatic kidney cancer is not a death sentence. Radiation therapy and surgery can offer relief from some of the most debilitating symptoms of advanced kidney cancer, while new medications that stave off disease progression are helping people live longer, with fewer side effects.
Back pain is also less commonly a symptom of kidney cancer. About 41 percent of people with RCC report back pain. But most people don't experience back pain until the cancer is in the later stages. The pain can range from a dull ache to a sharp stab on one side of your flank or below the ribs on your back.
In its early stages, kidney cancer may not cause any noticeable symptoms that affect your body. As it progresses, however, this cancer may cause blood in the urine and lower back pain on one side of the body. Other ways that kidney cancer may start to affect the rest of your body include: Generalized fatigue.
Symptoms of Kidney PainA dull ache that's usually constant. Pain under your rib cage or in your belly. Pain in your side; usually only one side, but sometimes both hurt. Sharp or severe pain that may come in waves.
When kidneys are failing, the increased concentration and accumulation of substances in urine lead to a darker color which may be brown, red or purple.
