Symptoms of Kidney Cancer

Common symptoms of kidney cancer include:

• Blood in the urine (making the urine slightly rusty red or red)
• Pain in the side that is not lost
• A lump or mass on the side or stomach
• Weight loss
• Fever
• Feel very tired or have an overall feeling of poor health

Most often, these symptoms do not mean cancer. An infection, a cyst, or another problem also could cause the same symptoms. A person with any of these symptoms should visit a doctor so that any problems can be diagnosed and treated as early as possible.
Diagnose Kidney Cancer
If a patient has symptoms that suggest kidney cancer, the doctor may perform one or more of the following procedures:

• Physical examination: The doctor checks general signs of health and to test for fever and high blood pressure. Doctors also feel (palpate) the abdomen and side for tumors.
• Urine tests: Urine is checked for blood and other signs of illness.
• Blood tests: The lab checks the blood to see how well the kidneys are working. The lab may check the level of some compounds, such as creatinine. A high creatinine level may mean the kidneys are not doing their job.
• Intravenous pyelogram (IVP): The doctor injects dye (dye) into a vein in the arm. The dye travels through the body and collects in the kidneys. The dye makes them visible on x-rays. A series of x-rays then track the dye as it moves through the kidneys to the ureters and bladder. X-rays can show a kidney tumor or other problems.
• CT scan (CAT scan): A x-ray machine linked to a computer takes a series of detailed pictures of the kidneys. Patients may receive an injection of dye so the kidneys show up clearly in the pictures. A CT scan can show a kidney tumor.
• Ultrasound test: The ultrasound device uses sound waves that people can not hear. Gelombag waves bounce off the kidneys, and a computer uses the echoes to create a picture called a sonogram. A solid tumor or cyst on a sonogram.
• Biopsy: In some cases, doctors may do a biopsy. A biopsy is the removal of tissue to look for cancer cells. The doctor inserts a thin needle through the skin into the kidney to remove a small amount of tissue. The doctor may use ultrasound or x-rays to guide the needle. A pathologist uses a microscope to look for cancer cells in tissue.
• Operation: In most cases, based on the results of the CT scan, ultrasound, and x-rays, the doctor has enough information to recommend surgery to remove part or all of the kidney. A pathologist makes the final diagnosis by examining the tissue under a microscope.