Are There Early Signs of Kidney Cancer

When someone has skin cancer, they might see an unusual growth on their skin. For example, breast cancer is often found when a woman discovers a lump in her breast. Because the kidneys are so deep inside the body, it’s harder to find kidney cancer just by looking or feeling for growths.

Although mammograms and colonoscopies can screen for breast and colorectal cancers, there is no screening test for kidney cancer in people who aren’t at high risk for the disease.

Imaging tests like computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can spot cancer in the kidneys. Yet these tests are costly, and they often can’t differentiate between kidney cancer and noncancerous growths.

Usually, doctors only recommend CT or MRI scans for people who are at very high risk for kidney cancer because of an inherited condition, like von Hippel-Landau disease.

Kidney cancer often doesn’t cause symptoms until the tumor has already grown. The most common symptom is blood in the urine, called hematuria. If the amount of blood is too small to be seen with the naked eye, it can be found on a urine test.

It’s important to remember: noticing blood in your urine doesn’t mean that you have kidney cancer. Other conditions—from infections to kidney stones—can also produce this symptom.

Early Stages of Kidney Cancer

The two kidneys lie to the sides of the upper part of the tummy (abdomen), behind the intestines, and either side of the spine. Each kidney is about the size of a large orange, but bean-shaped.

Most cases of kidney cancer develop in people over the age of 60 although it sometimes affects younger people. Once kidney cancer cells are identified, your medical team will determine the stage of the cancer. The stage is based on how much or how little the cancer has spread.

Many kidney cancers are found fairly early, while they are still confined to the kidney, but others are found at a more advanced stage. There are a few reasons for this:

Age. Most cases develop in people over the age of 60. It is uncommon in people aged under 50. It is also more common in men.

Smoking. About a third of kidney cancers are thought to be caused by smoking. Some of the chemicals from tobacco get into the body and are passed out in urine. These chemicals in the urine can be damaging (carcinogenic) to kidney tubule cells.

Other chemical carcinogens. Some workplace chemicals have been linked to an increased risk of kidney cancer. For example, asbestos, cadmium and some organic solvents.

Obesity. Obesity is an established risk factor for kidney cancer. About a quarter of kidney cancer cases are due to being overweight.
Kidney dialysis. People on long-term dialysis have an increased risk.
High blood pressure (hypertension). There is a greater risk in people who have high blood pressure.

Genetic factors may play a role in some cases. (A faulty gene which runs in some families may sometimes trigger kidney cancer. Also, people with some rare genetic disorders have a higher risk of developing kidney cancer. For example, von Hippel-Lindau syndrome, Birt-Hogg-Dubé syndrome and tuberous sclerosis.)

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