Kidney cancer is not as prevalent as lung cancer or breast cancer. In most people, there is a less than 2% chance of developing kidney cancer. However, obese people, smokers, or those exposed to chemicals like benzene and asbestos, have a greater risk of developing this disease. At times, kidney cancer runs in families. So, if you are at risk, you must always watch out for the symptoms.

Let us take a look at a few early signs and diagnosis of kidney cancer.

Early symptoms

• Hematuria
  The presence of blood in the urine is a common sign of kidney cancer. In approximately 40-50% of people with the disease, this symptom is seen. It would help if you also looked for color changes in the urine. Anything red, brown, or pink is alarming.

• Incomprehensible weight loss
  Around 28% of kidney cancer patients suffer from a sudden weight loss. The weight loss is rapid as the tumor spread on to the organs. Loss of appetite is also a warning sign of kidney cancer.

• Lump or mass in the abdomen
  The presence of a lump or mass in the back, side, or abdomen could also indicate kidney cancer. The lump could feel lika a bulging bump beneath the skin. This lump is thick or hard. Approximately 45% of people with kidney cancer have this symptom. However, in the early stages, the lumps are hard to detect. This is because it sits deep in your abdomen. At times, you might not feel or see it even when the tumor grows.

• Back pain
  Back pain is quite common among people aged over 40. However, it could be a symptom of kidney cancer. Approximately 41% of people with this cancer report pain in the lower back. However, many times, you might not experience back pain until cancer has reached an advanced stage. If the problem ranges from a sharp stab on the side to a dull ache, you should be careful.

• Fatigue and anemia
  One of the most prevalent symptoms of kidney cancer is fatigue. It will only aggravate further when you are getting treated for this or any other type of cancer. If the fatigue is cancer-related, it is persistent and interferes with your routine activities. Moreover, 21% of people who have kidney cancer develop anemia.

Diagnosis
There are a few procedures and tests that help diagnose kidney cancer, including the following.

• Urine and blood tests
  When you do urine and blood tests, it allows the doctor to examine these for any sign of kidney cancer.

• Imaging tests
  With the imaging tests, the doctor can visualize any abnormalities in the kidney. It also makes it easier for them to detect kidney tumors.

• Biopsy
  In a biopsy, the doctor will take out a sample of cells from the kidney’s suspicious areas. Then, the sample is sent to a lab for examination. The lab team will then look for any visible signs of kidney cancer. However, this procedure might not always be needed.

So, these are early signs and diagnosis of kidney cancer that you should know about.