Understanding the subtle signs of kidney cancer is crucial for early diagnosis and more effective treatment. Kidney cancer often progresses slowly and may not initially show obvious symptoms, making it important to pay attention to even small changes in your health. Early signs of the disease may include symptoms such as blood in the urine, persistent lower back pain, unexplained weight loss, or a feeling of fullness in the side.

Although these symptoms might not seem serious or could be mistaken for other conditions, recognizing them and consulting a doctor can lead to an earlier diagnosis. In a conversation with Jagran English, Dr. Rajesh Kumar Reddy Adapala, a consultant uro-oncologist at the Asian Institute of Uro-oncology and Robotic Surgery in Banjara Hills, discussed the subtle signs of kidney cancer that should not be ignored.

Five Subtle Symptoms Of Kidney Cancer You Shouldn't Ignore:

Blood In The Urine: Medically known as hematuria, this is a symptom often overlooked, as many attribute it to body heat or a urinary infection. In the early stages, the urine may appear pinkish and clear up after drinking plenty of fluids. In later stages, the urine may contain visible blood and clots, which could indicate advanced disease where saving the kidney may be challenging.

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Flank Pain: Persistent dull aching pain in the flank region can be a warning sign of kidney cancer and warrants further evaluation.

Loin Mass: A gradually increasing swelling in the loin or flank area could indicate underlying kidney cancer. The mass may be vague and sometimes hard to the touch upon examination.

Do you know about these early signs of kidney cancer are urine blood, persistent pain, weight loss, and side fullness, which can be mistaken for other conditions. (Image Credit: Canva)

Unexplained Fever: Known as 'pyrexia of unknown origin,' this refers to persistent fever with inconclusive lab tests. Kidney tumors can secrete certain cytokines and interleukins that may cause fever, raising suspicion of cancer.

Loss of Appetite And Weight Loss: Unexplained weight loss and loss of appetite without changes in diet or exercise could signal advanced kidney cancer, which might be more difficult to treat at this stage.

In addition to these signs and symptoms, many kidney cancers are now detected incidentally during imaging for unrelated issues. This underscores the importance of periodic health check-ups. Kidney cancer often remains silent in its early stages and only becomes symptomatic as it progresses to a more advanced stage.

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Dr. Rajesh Kumar Reddy emphasised that early detection is vital because small tumors can be removed through minimally invasive surgeries, such as robotic or laparoscopic partial nephrectomy, rather than through more invasive open surgery. Therefore, the adage 'the earlier, the better' is especially true for kidney cancer.