Kidney cancer occurs when the cells of one or both kidneys undergo abnormal mutations and changes in their cells, and unbalanced cell growth and division occur in the kidneys. In this case, some cells can even break off and spread (metastasize) to distant parts of the body.
Another article, "What are the causes of kidney cancer?", has discussed several factors increasing the risk of developing kidney cancer.
As stated in that article, many of the factors affecting kidney cancer are not specific and unique to this disease, and they can lead to other medical disorders.
The same characteristic applies to the symptoms of kidney cancer.
In the early stages of kidney cancer, there are usually few symptoms, and the person will find out about the disease when they have an X-ray or laboratory tests to check for another reason or screening.
The evident symptoms of kidney cancer usually appear when the cancerous tumor has grown and the disease has spread to other parts of the patient's body (the medical term is metastatic).
In the past, the classic triad of lower back pain, a lump on the back or sides, and blood in the urine, were known to be the most common kidney cancer symptoms.
But today, we know that many different symptoms can indicate a person is diagnosed with cancer or a kidney tumor, such as anemia, pain in bones, weight loss, etc.
Join us in this article to discuss some of the symptoms of kidney cancer.
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Anemia is currently the most common symptom of kidney cancer. The kidneys produce a protein called erythropoietin, which triggers the production of red blood cells in the bone marrow.
With kidney cancer, the production of these proteins decreases, leading to anemia due to red blood cell deficiency (anemia).
In contrast, in some people, kidney cancerous cells would increase the amount of erythropoietin protein. In this case, the number of red blood cells will increase abnormally, leading to the paraneoplastic syndrome.
This symptom, being one of the most common kidney cancer symptoms, is usually seen when the kidney tumor has spread (metastasized).
In this case, the urine may be completely bloody (pure hematuria), have a light pink color, or the blood may be visible only under a microscope.
This pain can occur in different forms, from mild to sharp and throbbing pain.
Because the kidneys play a significant role in regulating the balance of body fluids (electrolytes), any kidney disease, including kidney cancer, can cause fluid imbalance and retention in the body. This complication would be perceived in the form of swelling in the legs and ankles.
The kidneys produce hormones in the body that play a vital role in regulating blood pressure. Chronic high blood pressure may be a sign of kidney cancer or lead to kidney failure.
A common symptom of kidney cancer is to have a fever above 38 degrees, which either does not go away or recurs periodically and is not from a cold, flu, or other infections.
In some patients, flushing with a burning sensation in the face, neck, and limbs has also been observed.
This fatigue, unlike normal fatigue, is intense and usually will not go away with a good night's sleep.
Anorexia is one of the most common symptoms of kidney cancer. In this case, the person will rarely feel hungry.
Losing 5% or more of your body weight over a period of 6 to 12 months is called unintentional weight loss. It is a common symptom of kidney cancer, affecting about one-third of people.
Weight loss may or may not be associated with Cachexia syndrome. This syndrome is characterized by loss of muscle mass.
Any mass in these areas, even if it is a fat mass that has formed with aging, should be examined by your doctor.
Varicose veins, or the presence of an enlarged vessel in the testicles called varicocele, generally occurring on the right side, can indicate a large kidney tumor.
Paraneoplastic syndromes include a set of symptoms caused by the imbalanced production of hormones or other substances by cancer cells. In the early stages of kidney cancer, these syndromes may lead to abnormal changes such as elevated blood calcium levels (with symptoms such as nausea), weakness and confusion, increased red blood cells (erythrocytosis), and liver dysfunctions.
Also, other symptoms can be seen if kidney cancer has spread to other parts of the body (metastatic).
Kidney cancer often spreads to the lungs, bones, and brain, and its symptoms can respectively be coughing and shortness of breath, bone pain, or hallucinations and difficulty in balancing.
However, if you have experienced any of these symptoms and are worried that you have kidney cancer, you should undergo some examinations and visit a doctor. You know the best way to treat a disease is to diagnose it early!
Do not forget that the medical consultants of TebMedTourism Co. are also ready to answer your questions (for free) 24 hours a day.
TebMedTourism Company is an International healthcare facilitator based in Tehran, Iran.
We start our professional activity in medical tourism industry regarding the profound capability of Iran in both healthcare & touristic fields.
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