What are the symptoms of kidney cancer?

Written by Li Liu Sheng
Nephrology
Updated on November 19, 2024
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Kidney cancer is a common tumor in urological surgery, and a typical symptom in patients with kidney cancer is the appearance of hematuria. The characteristic of this hematuria is that it is painless visible hematuria throughout the course. Initially, the severity of the hematuria is relatively mild, occurring intermittently. However, over time, the hematuria gradually worsens, and the intervals shorten, even leading to significant bleeding. Another symptom of kidney cancer is back pain, which is caused by the increased size of the tumor pulling on the kidney, causing pain. When the tumor presses, it can also lead to severe back pain. A mass is another common symptom of kidney cancer; when a mass is felt on one side of the upper abdomen or back and moves up and down with respiration, it is generally indicative of the late stages of kidney cancer. Therefore, the typical symptoms of kidney cancer are hematuria, pain, and a mass.

Other Voices

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Is Stage 2 kidney cancer considered early stage?

Kidney cancer refers to a malignant tumor that occurs in the kidney. The causes of kidney cancer are not particularly clear at present, but are related to genetics, smoking, obesity, hypertension, and the treatment of hypertension. Most early-stage kidney cancer patients are found to have asymptomatic kidney cancer during health check-ups, and these patients account for more than 50% to 60% of all kidney cancer cases. Patients with kidney cancer generally experience back pain and hematuria, and some patients may present with an abdominal mass. Stage II kidney cancer is considered early-stage kidney cancer. For the treatment of kidney cancer, a clear diagnosis first requires a CT scan and enhanced CT of the kidney. The preferred treatment method for stage II kidney cancer is radical nephrectomy, which can be performed using laparoscopic surgery or traditional open surgery, with laparoscopic surgery primarily favored at present. After kidney cancer surgery, regular follow-ups are necessary to prevent distant metastasis. Therefore, post-operative check-ups should occur every 3 to 6 months for the first three years, followed by an annual follow-up thereafter. Hence, stage II kidney cancer, being early-stage, can be cured.

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Can kidney cancer patients eat eggs?

Patients with kidney cancer can eat eggs. Kidney cancer is a malignant tumor of the kidney, originating from the epithelial cells of the renal tubules. Although this disease is a malignant tumor, the patient's body still needs nutrients. Therefore, high-protein foods can be consumed by patients, and they should maintain a protein intake roughly the same as that of healthy individuals. Eggs are rich in protein, with each egg containing about seven to eight grams of protein. Kidney cancer patients can eat eggs without worsening their condition or causing the disease to spread. The folk saying that some foods are "stimulating" is not scientifically founded. Currently, there is no clear evidence in medicine to support the claim that eggs and beef are "stimulating."

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Is kidney cancer prone to metastasis?

Kidney cancer in its early stages generally does not metastasize. If it does metastasize, it usually follows several paths: one is hematogenous or lymphatic spread, followed by local diffusion, and then the tumor invades surrounding fat or blood vessels, which is local diffusion. It is also important to note that there is a pseudo-capsule around the kidney cancer that prevents the spread of cancer cells. Metastasis is not likely when the tumor is small, but as the tumor size increases or in some special types of tumor cells, metastasis may occur.

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What are the common symptoms of kidney cancer?

Kidney cancer is a malignant tumor of the renal parenchymal tissue. Some patients do not have specific symptoms, especially in the early stages. As the disease progresses, patients may find a mass in the abdomen. Some patients may experience back pain due to the enlargement of the kidney pressing against the renal capsule. Some patients experience bleeding due to the gradual rupture of the tumor, causing visible blood in the urine, which sometimes appears as painless throughout the blood in the urine. These symptoms may indicate the presence of a malignant tumor in the kidney, and diagnosis needs to be confirmed through ultrasound and CT scans.

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Difference between Renal Cancer and Renal Pelvis Cancer

First, the sites of the disease are different; renal pelvis cancer usually occurs in the epithelium of the renal pelvis or calyces, while renal cancer typically originates from the epithelial cells of the renal tubules. Second, the presentations are different; hematuria is a common symptom of both renal pelvis cancer and renal cancer. However, in renal pelvis cancer, hematuria can occur early, while in renal cancer, hematuria may not be seen until the tumor has invaded the renal pelvis or calyces. Third, the diagnostic tests are different; the clinical diagnosis of renal cancer heavily relies on CT scans, whereas renal pelvis cancer primarily depends on excretory or retrograde urography, that is, CT urography. Fourth, the CT appearances are different; on CT scans, renal cancer typically shows as a multicystic lesion with more pronounced enhancement during contrast than that seen in renal pelvis cancer. Fifth, the results of cytological examinations are different; cytology of renal pelvis cancer may show positive tumor cells, but renal cancer might test negative.