Common Symptoms of Kidney Cancer
What’s behind the signs and symptoms of kidney cancer
The symptoms of kidney cancer appear in places like
your urine or lower back. Most likely they have to do with your kidney function
and tumor growth. The kidneys are two bean-shaped, fist-sized organs under the
backside of your rib cage. They help:
Your body can function normally with only one kidney. But when there’s a tumor growing, your kidney’s normal functions may be disrupted.
Kidney cancer, also called renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is one of the 10 most common cancers in both men and women. But symptoms don’t often appear until later stages or until the tumor is large. In fact, kidney cancer is most commonly diagnosed in people over 60 years old. It’s often found by accident during routine imaging tests.
Click through the slideshow to learn about the five most common symptoms and signs of kidney cancer. Talk to your doctor if you’re showing symptoms.
- filter waste from your blood
- create urine
- control blood pressure
- create red blood cells
Your body can function normally with only one kidney. But when there’s a tumor growing, your kidney’s normal functions may be disrupted.
Kidney cancer, also called renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is one of the 10 most common cancers in both men and women. But symptoms don’t often appear until later stages or until the tumor is large. In fact, kidney cancer is most commonly diagnosed in people over 60 years old. It’s often found by accident during routine imaging tests.
Click through the slideshow to learn about the five most common symptoms and signs of kidney cancer. Talk to your doctor if you’re showing symptoms.
Hematuria, or blood in the urine, is one of the most
common symptoms. It appears in 40 to 50 percent of people with kidney cancer, according
to the Kidney
Cancer Association.
Even a small amount of blood can cause a color change such as pink, brownish, or even red. The presence of blood can be inconsistent, appearing about every other day. Sometimes the amount of blood is so small it can only be detected during a urinalysis.
Other more common causes of blood in the urine include bladder or kidney infection, kidney stones, cysts, or injury to the kidney. Always see a doctor if you detect blood in your urine.
Even a small amount of blood can cause a color change such as pink, brownish, or even red. The presence of blood can be inconsistent, appearing about every other day. Sometimes the amount of blood is so small it can only be detected during a urinalysis.
Other more common causes of blood in the urine include bladder or kidney infection, kidney stones, cysts, or injury to the kidney. Always see a doctor if you detect blood in your urine.
Back pain is common in people over 40 years old.
This is usually due to musculoskeletal injury or disk degeneration. 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. Your flank is the area between your lower back and the bottom of the backside of your ribs. It may also feel like side pain to some people.
The type of pain associated with RCC can vary and some people report pressure instead of an ache or sharp pain. See a doctor if you have any sudden pain that is persistent and lasts more than a few days. Mention any other symptoms during your visit to help your doctor determine the likely cause.
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. Your flank is the area between your lower back and the bottom of the backside of your ribs. It may also feel like side pain to some people.
The type of pain associated with RCC can vary and some people report pressure instead of an ache or sharp pain. See a doctor if you have any sudden pain that is persistent and lasts more than a few days. Mention any other symptoms during your visit to help your doctor determine the likely cause.
A mass or lump in the abdomen, side, or back can also
be a sign of kidney cancer. It can feel like a hard, thickening, or bulging
bump under the skin. About 45 percent of people with RCC have an abdominal
mass.
But kidney lumps are hard to feel, especially in the early stages. That’s because the kidneys sit deep in the abdomen. You may even see or feel the lump as the tumor grows.
If a lump is discovered, your doctor will likely order diagnostic tests. Usually an ultrasound or a CT scan. These tests may help determine the cause of the lump. In most cases a biopsy will be needed to confirm the diagnosis.
Keep in mind that not all lumps are cancer. Talk to your doctor if you’re concerned about a lump around your abdomen.
But kidney lumps are hard to feel, especially in the early stages. That’s because the kidneys sit deep in the abdomen. You may even see or feel the lump as the tumor grows.
If a lump is discovered, your doctor will likely order diagnostic tests. Usually an ultrasound or a CT scan. These tests may help determine the cause of the lump. In most cases a biopsy will be needed to confirm the diagnosis.
Keep in mind that not all lumps are cancer. Talk to your doctor if you’re concerned about a lump around your abdomen.
Fatigue is one of the most common symptoms of any
type of cancer, especially during treatments. About 70 to 100 percent of people
who undergo cancer treatments report
fatigue. Many people with cancer say fatigue is one of the most difficult
symptoms to manage.
Fatigue from cancer is different than just feeling tired from lack of sleep. Cancer-related fatigue is persistent and interferes with daily activities. It can also intensify as time goes on.
About 21 percent of people with kidney cancer have anemia, or low red blood cell count. Normally your kidneys signal your body to make red blood cells. Cancer can interfere with that signaling. Anemia can also cause worsening fatigue, shortness of breath, dizziness, and pale looking skin.
Make an appointment with your doctor if you’re feeling unusually tired. They can run tests to help diagnose the cause and find the right treatment.
About 28 percent of people with kidney cancer report weight loss. This usually happens quickly, as the tumor spreads to other organs. You may suddenly lose interest in eating, even when you’re not trying to lose weight. This loss of appetite can contribute to weight loss.
A fever on its own isn’t usually a symptom of kidney cancer, but unexplained and recurring fevers may be. These fevers are usually not caused by an infection and commonly will come and go.
Fatigue from cancer is different than just feeling tired from lack of sleep. Cancer-related fatigue is persistent and interferes with daily activities. It can also intensify as time goes on.
About 21 percent of people with kidney cancer have anemia, or low red blood cell count. Normally your kidneys signal your body to make red blood cells. Cancer can interfere with that signaling. Anemia can also cause worsening fatigue, shortness of breath, dizziness, and pale looking skin.
Make an appointment with your doctor if you’re feeling unusually tired. They can run tests to help diagnose the cause and find the right treatment.
About 28 percent of people with kidney cancer report weight loss. This usually happens quickly, as the tumor spreads to other organs. You may suddenly lose interest in eating, even when you’re not trying to lose weight. This loss of appetite can contribute to weight loss.
A fever on its own isn’t usually a symptom of kidney cancer, but unexplained and recurring fevers may be. These fevers are usually not caused by an infection and commonly will come and go.
Risks and prevention
Some individuals are more likely to develop kidney
cancer than others. Risk factors include:
Maintain a healthy weight and diet, and don’t smoke. Avoid frequent exposure to harmful carcinogenic substances can also decrease your chances of developing kidney cancer.
- age (as you get older, your chance of kidney cancer increases)
- smoking
- obesity
- high blood pressure
- treatment for kidney failure
- certain genetic or hereditary factors
- male gender
Maintain a healthy weight and diet, and don’t smoke. Avoid frequent exposure to harmful carcinogenic substances can also decrease your chances of developing kidney cancer.
Diagnostic tests
Tell your physician if you have a personal or family
history that includes cancer. This can help determine your risk factors for
developing RCC.
If you have any symptoms of kidney cancer your doctor will order tests to help determine the cause. Possible tests include a urinalysis, and culture and blood tests to check for anemia. Your liver and kidney function, and other metabolic functions will also be analyzed.
If your doctor finds a lump, they may use imaging tests, such as ultrasound, CT, or MRI. If a lump or a mass is found on your imaging tests, you will likely need a biopsy to determine whether or not you have cancer.
It’s important to know the signs and symptoms of RCC, especially if you have a family history or other risk factors. Most of the symptoms of kidney cancer can be the result of other less serious problems. But these symptoms should not be ignored, especially if you have more than one of them.
Make an appointment with your doctor if you have any of these symptoms.
Kidney cancer often shows no signs until later stages, so it’s important to see a doctor as soon as symptoms arise. With an early diagnosis, you can increase your chance of successful treatment and improve the long-term outlook of your condition.
From researching the chemical effects of hundreds of drugs on
cell signaling pathways, a team of researchers has discovered that
axitinib - a drug approved for the treatment of kidney cancer - can also
attack other types of cancer via a different route.
The discovery is an example from the growing field of drug repurposing, which investigates whether drugs already approved to treat one condition could also be safe and effective against another condition.
The study, led by researchers from the Department of Clinical Science
at the University of Bergen in Norway, is published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences and there is a comment on the discovery of the "useful off-target effect" in the journal Science Signaling.
The discovery comes from a growing field of research called drug repurposing,which investigates whether drugs already approved to treat one disease or condition are effective and safe for treating other diseases.
The field is growing for a number of reasons. One is that it takes a lot of time, effort, and cost to develop a brand new drug, often more than 14 years. Drug repurposing can cut these significantly.
Many compounds approved for other uses have already been tested in humans, so detailed knowledge about their safety and how they affect the body at different doses is already available. This speeds up their journey to clinical use through clinical trials and review by drug regulators.
Another reason that drug repurposing is attracting more attention in drug development is because of increasing knowledge about how diseases arise and progress at the molecular level. This provides unprecedented opportunities for studying compounds that target molecular pathways - including those in drugs that are already approved for clinical use.
It was during a particular search - where they mapped the chemistry of 500 known drugs - that they discovered a previously unknown effect of the kidney cancer drug axitinib.
Axitinib is approved for use as a "tyrosine kinase inhibitor" that blocks the triggering of angiogenesis - the generation of new blood vessels, which tumors rely on to grow.
The new study shows that axitinib has a useful off-target effect in that it also knocks out a type of "Wnt signaling" cell communication pathway that encourages cells to mutate.
As around 90 percent of all cancer arises from mutations in cells, the researchers believe axitinib could be effective against several forms of the disease, including breast, prostate, and colorectal cancers.
The off-target effects - such as blocking signaling mechanisms - do not necessarily mean these compounds will be enough to treat the particular cancer, as Prof. Kalland explains:
"Knocking out these mechanisms will not cure cancer alone, but be a contribution in the fight against cancer. Cancer has to be defeated with a combined strategy."
In the case of axitinib, Prof. Kalland believes the effect his group has discovered could be used in combination with immunotherapy.
Immunotherapy is a type of cancer treatment designed to boost the body's natural defenses to fight the disease.
If you have any symptoms of kidney cancer your doctor will order tests to help determine the cause. Possible tests include a urinalysis, and culture and blood tests to check for anemia. Your liver and kidney function, and other metabolic functions will also be analyzed.
If your doctor finds a lump, they may use imaging tests, such as ultrasound, CT, or MRI. If a lump or a mass is found on your imaging tests, you will likely need a biopsy to determine whether or not you have cancer.
It’s important to know the signs and symptoms of RCC, especially if you have a family history or other risk factors. Most of the symptoms of kidney cancer can be the result of other less serious problems. But these symptoms should not be ignored, especially if you have more than one of them.
Make an appointment with your doctor if you have any of these symptoms.
Kidney cancer often shows no signs until later stages, so it’s important to see a doctor as soon as symptoms arise. With an early diagnosis, you can increase your chance of successful treatment and improve the long-term outlook of your condition.
The discovery is an example from the growing field of drug repurposing, which investigates whether drugs already approved to treat one condition could also be safe and effective against another condition.
The discovery comes from a growing field of research called drug repurposing,which investigates whether drugs already approved to treat one disease or condition are effective and safe for treating other diseases.
The field is growing for a number of reasons. One is that it takes a lot of time, effort, and cost to develop a brand new drug, often more than 14 years. Drug repurposing can cut these significantly.
Many compounds approved for other uses have already been tested in humans, so detailed knowledge about their safety and how they affect the body at different doses is already available. This speeds up their journey to clinical use through clinical trials and review by drug regulators.
Another reason that drug repurposing is attracting more attention in drug development is because of increasing knowledge about how diseases arise and progress at the molecular level. This provides unprecedented opportunities for studying compounds that target molecular pathways - including those in drugs that are already approved for clinical use.
Team mapped 500 known drugs
The researchers at the University of Bergen, led by Prof. Karl-Henning Kalland, have for many years been searching for compounds that block the chemical signals that drive the growth and spread of cancer cells.It was during a particular search - where they mapped the chemistry of 500 known drugs - that they discovered a previously unknown effect of the kidney cancer drug axitinib.
Axitinib is approved for use as a "tyrosine kinase inhibitor" that blocks the triggering of angiogenesis - the generation of new blood vessels, which tumors rely on to grow.
The new study shows that axitinib has a useful off-target effect in that it also knocks out a type of "Wnt signaling" cell communication pathway that encourages cells to mutate.
As around 90 percent of all cancer arises from mutations in cells, the researchers believe axitinib could be effective against several forms of the disease, including breast, prostate, and colorectal cancers.
Potential for combining with immunotherapy
The team also discovered a handful of other promising candidates, which they are testing further and hope to report on soon.The off-target effects - such as blocking signaling mechanisms - do not necessarily mean these compounds will be enough to treat the particular cancer, as Prof. Kalland explains:
"Knocking out these mechanisms will not cure cancer alone, but be a contribution in the fight against cancer. Cancer has to be defeated with a combined strategy."
In the case of axitinib, Prof. Kalland believes the effect his group has discovered could be used in combination with immunotherapy.
Immunotherapy is a type of cancer treatment designed to boost the body's natural defenses to fight the disease.
"It is a very interesting coincidence that the specific signaling pathway that is getting attacked, both leads to a blocking of the cancer cells and stimulates the activation of immune cells, creating a great synergy effect. This synergy is to be followed up."Learn how four-stranded DNA could help develop targeted cancer treatments.
Prof. Karl-Henning Kalland
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