Kidney Cancer Symptoms and Signs

Kidney cancer signs and symptoms can vary from person to person. The most common early kidney cancer symptom is blood in the urine, also called hematuria. While this can turn the urine a red or rusty color, it also can sometimes only be detected by having a test done.

Kidney Cancer Care Tailored to You

You and your family are our top priority. At Fred Hutch Cancer Center, we offer comprehensive and compassionate care — personalized to you. You'll have access to the latest treatment options, clinical trials and supportive care services.

Request an Appointment

Symptoms or Signs of Kidney Cancer

If you notice any of the following signs or symptoms of kidney cancer, you should let your primary care provider (PCP) know:

  • Blood in your urine
  • Lump in your abdomen
  • Pain in your back or side that doesn't go away
  • Loss of appetite
  • Weight loss for no known reason
  • Anemia (diagnosed through a blood test, symptoms can include extreme fatigue or weakness)

Usually, these signs or symptoms are caused by other conditions, such as infections, a stone in the kidney or bladder, a noncancerous tumor or another benign kidney disease, not cancer. Your PCP can help you figure out what is causing your symptoms.

Kidney Cancer Symptoms and Signs FAQ

If you have any signs or symptoms that you worry might be from kidney cancer, talk with your primary care provider. Usually, these symptoms are caused by something else, such as an infection. Whatever the cause, it’s important to find out so you can get treatment to help. If it is cancer, finding it earlier may mean it’s easier to treat.

Kidney cancer starts when cells in the kidney grow out of control. Normally, cells in the body grow and multiply to form new cells as the body needs them. When cells get old or damaged, they die and are replaced. Sometimes, this normal process breaks down. Abnormal or damaged cells grow and multiply when they shouldn’t, forming tumors. Some tumors are cancer, and others are benign (noncancerous).

Kidney cancer spreads by growing into, or invading, nearby tissues. If the cancer cells invade nearby lymph nodes or blood vessels, they can travel through the lymph or blood to distant parts of the body. Then they can form new tumors in these places.

When physicians and scientists talk about cancer survival rates, they typically mean the percentage of people expected to survive their cancer for at least five years after being diagnosed. (The rate doesn’t include the risk of dying during that time for some other reason.) Overall, the relative five-year survival rate for localized (confined to the kidney) kidney cancer in the U.S. is 93%, according to the National Cancer Institute.

This rate comes from looking at a large, varied group of people. The chance of surviving cancer at least five years can vary greatly from one person to another. It depends on many factors, like how far the cancer has spread. Your Fred Hutch care team can explain how statistics like survival rates might apply to you.