What are the early symptoms of kidney cancer?

Written by Gong Chun
Oncology
Updated on September 26, 2024
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Many cases of kidney cancer often have no obvious symptoms in their early stages and are not discovered until the tumor progresses. After the tumor progresses, symptoms may include hematuria, which can be intermittent, painless, and visible throughout its course. There may also be back pain and a lump in the abdomen, which is evident in about twenty percent of cases. Slim individuals might find it easier to detect such lumps. There are also some extrarenal manifestations including fever, weight loss, accelerated erythrocyte sedimentation rate, anemia, hypertension, polycythemia, hypercalcemia, liver function impairment, etc. These symptoms might appear in the early stages. However, symptoms can vary from person to person.

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Written by Zou De Bo
Urology
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The typical three major symptoms of kidney cancer

The typical three major symptoms of kidney cancer are hematuria, pain, and a mass. If these three symptoms appear, it generally indicates that the condition has reached an advanced stage, at which point the patient may have missed the optimal timing for treatment. Surgery at this stage may also be challenging to perform completely. Therefore, early detection and treatment are essential. The five-year survival rate after kidney cancer surgery is as high as 97% for many people. Thus, overall, the prognosis for kidney cancer is relatively good. However, the best treatment approach remains surgery, including nephron-sparing surgery and radical nephrectomy, depending on the size of the tumor. Generally, for tumors smaller than four centimeters, nephron-sparing treatment can be adopted.

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Written by Yan Chun
Oncology
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Kidney cancer most commonly metastasizes to which locations?

Kidney cancer clinically tends to metastasize through direct spread, the lymphatic pathway, and the hematogenous pathway. The lymphatic route often involves enlargement of the perirenal lymph nodes or the lymph nodes in the groin or retroperitoneum. Kidney cancer is also prone to metastasize to the lungs, liver, bones, and other parts via the bloodstream. Similarly, kidney cancer can spread to the perirenal area, ureters, bladder, and other parts through direct extension. Once kidney cancer metastasizes to other organs, it is considered to be in the advanced stages clinically, and treatment primarily involves targeted therapy, chemotherapy, and other comprehensive treatment measures, with surgical treatment not being used as the primary anti-tumor treatment. Once kidney cancer has metastasized, the clinical staging is late, and the prognosis for the patients is poor.

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Written by Zeng Zhong
Urology
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Can kidney cancer patients eat mushrooms?

Patients with kidney cancer can eat mushrooms. They should pay special attention to their diet in daily life, as some foods can harm their body after consumption. It is advisable for kidney cancer patients to eat foods that enhance vitality and avoid spicy and stimulating foods, foods high in iodine, seafood, and also to abstain from drinking alcohol and smoking. Kidney cancer patients generally have less physical activity and poorer digestive functions, so they should primarily consume foods that are light and easy to digest. The diet of kidney cancer patients must ensure nutritional sufficiency and pay attention to a balanced diet, incorporating starchy foods like carrots and peas, as well as foods that enhance the body's anti-cancer abilities, such as mushrooms and shiitake mushrooms.

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Written by Yan Chun
Oncology
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Does kidney cancer affect the renal calyx?

Kidney cancer lesions can sometimes affect the renal calyces. This is because kidney cancer is a malignant disease characterized by invasion and metastasis. When the lesions from kidney cancer invade the surrounding renal tissues, this can impact the function of the renal calyces. Some patients may experience toxic side effects from chemotherapy, targeted therapy, and other related antitumor treatments for kidney cancer, which can also affect the renal calyces. In summary, the lesions from kidney cancer and related antitumor treatments can potentially affect and even lead to clinical manifestations of kidney damage, including complications such as hydronephrosis. Once the kidney cancer lesions affect the renal calyces, this can result in sequelae such as renal failure.

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Written by Wang Shuai
Urology
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Can kidney cancer be diagnosed with a CT scan?

If you have kidney cancer, preoperative examinations, including ultrasound, CT, and even MRI, cannot definitively diagnose the cancer. These preoperative tests primarily provide diagnostic references. To confirm a diagnosis of kidney cancer, a biopsy via renal tumor puncture must be performed, or after surgery, the specimen should be sent for pathological examination to be definitively diagnosed based on the pathology results. This is because the pathology results clarify the type of tumor cells and their grading, making the pathological examination the final and most accurate diagnostic result.