Kidney cancer doesn’t often have signs or symptoms in the early stages. As cancer progresses the following signs and symptoms can develop:

– Blood in the urine that can appear pink, red, or cola-colored.
– Pain in the back or side that does not go away.
– Loss of appetite.
– Unexplained weight loss.
– Tiredness.
– Fever.

The American Cancer Society estimates that kidney cancer in the U.S. for 2022 is:

– About 79,000 cases of kidney cancer affecting 50,290 men and 28,710 women will be diagnosed.
– About 13,290 people will die from kidney cancer.

These numbers include all kinds of kidney cancer.

Most people that get kidney cancer are older. The average age when most people are diagnosed with kidney cancer is between the ages of 65 and 74. Kidney cancer is fairly uncommon in people under 45 years old. Kidney cancer is almost twice as common in men than in women. And it is more common in American Indians, Alaska Natives, and African Americans.

Renal cell carcinoma is the most common type of cancer of the kidneys. This type of cancer usually starts in the renal tubules, which are tiny tubes in the kidneys. Renal cell carcinoma will often remain in the kidneys. But it can spread outside of the kidneys to other parts of the body, including the lungs, brain, and bones.

Another form of kidney cancer is clear cell renal cell carcinoma. This is sometimes called conventional renal cell carcinoma. This is the most common kind of kidney cancer. Clear cell renal carcinoma is named this because of how the tutor appears under a microscope. The cells in the tumor appear clear and look like bubbles.

In adults, clear cell renal carcinoma makes up about 80% of the cases. This type of cancer is far more common in adults than in children. Renal cell carcinoma will make up about 2% to 6% of kidney cancer in children and young adults.

Kidney cancer may go unnoticed in the early stages because there are rarely symptoms in these stages. As it progresses, this cancer can cause symptoms like blood in the urine, and pain in one side of the lower back. The other ways that kidney cancer can start to affect the body include:

– A loss of appetite
– Generalized fatigue
– A visible lump on your lower back or side
– Swollen lymph nodes
– Fever that isn’t associated with an illness
– Unexpected weight loss
– Anemia (low levels of red blood cells)

If kidney cancer is left untreated it can spread to other areas of the body such as the lungs, brain, and bones. This means that it is important to get an early diagnosis of kidney cancer. Early diagnosis and treatment are effective at treating kidney cancer and can prevent it from spreading.

Mohamed & Associates Urology Center can diagnose and treat kidney cancer. Finding it early can make it much more manageable. Call us for more information about kidney cancer and how we can help. We serve patients from Smithfield NC, Selma NC, Clayton NC, Princeton NC, Whitley Heights NC, Four Oaks NC, Pine Level NC, Kenly NC, and surrounding areas.