Kidney Cancer: Symptoms & Signs

Medically Reviewed on 9/10/2019

Symptoms of kidney cancer include blood in the urine, giving the urine a rusty, pink, or dark red appearance. Persistent pain in the side (flank) is another common symptom, along with an abdominal mass or lump, fever, weight loss, tiredness, and a general feeling of being unwell. However, noncancerous conditions like cysts, benign tumors, or infections are the most common causes of these symptoms. Blood in the urine should always be investigated to determine the cause.

Causes of kidney cancer

The cause of kidney cancer is unknown. There are certain risk factors that make it more likely to develop kidney cancer. These include obesity, smoking, high blood pressure, long-term dialysis, male gender, Von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) syndrome, and certain occupational exposures (asbestos workers, for example).

Other kidney cancer symptoms and signs

References
Kasper, D.L., et al., eds. Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine, 19th Ed. United States: McGraw-Hill Education, 2015.