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Warning Signs of Kidney Cancer You Shouldn’t Ignore
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Kidney cancer rates are rising in the U.S. In fact, it’s one of the 10 most common types of new cancer cases today. According to the American Cancer Society, more than 80,000 people were diagnosed with the disease in 2025. As a urologic oncologist who specializes in urinary system cancers at Fox Chase Cancer Center, kidney cancer is also one of the cancers I frequently treat. And that’s one of the reasons why I think it’s so important to raise awareness of the earliest signs that might indicate kidney cancer.
Finding kidney cancer before it has spread to other parts of the body can significantly improve the outlook for people diagnosed with this disease. Although every patient’s journey is unique, more than 90% of patients with kidney cancer can be cured by treatment when kidney cancer is diagnosed early, when it is still confined to the kidney.
That’s why knowing what to look for—and talking with your doctor if you experience possible symptoms of kidney cancer—is crucial. It can help ensure that you get an accurate diagnosis as soon as possible and can lead to prompt treatment.
That said, early detection can be a challenge when it comes to kidney cancer. That’s partly because kidney cancer commonly may not cause noticeable symptoms when it is in its earliest stages, and when changes do appear, they can overlap and closely resemble the symptoms seen in many common health conditions.
Still, knowing the potential warning signs of kidney cancer may make a difference. Understanding these key signs and symptoms can help support earlier detection, and some people might benefit from a medical screening test for kidney cancer, even if they aren’t experiencing symptoms. Here’s what to watch for.
Know the signs and symptoms of kidney cancer
Most people won’t have symptoms of kidney cancer until it has become very large, or spreads beyond the kidney, in part because the kidneys are located deep inside the body. But there are some telltale markers I advise everyone to look out for:
Blood in the urine
Middle-back pain on one side
Unexplained weight loss
An unexplained fever that lingers
Loss of appetite
A lump in the stomach area, side, or lower back
Fatigue
Night sweats
Anemia (low levels of red blood cells)
Having these symptoms doesn’t mean that you definitely have kidney cancer. In fact, most of the time they can be caused by other health conditions, such as urinary tract or bladder infections.
Still, if you experience any of these symptoms, it’s crucial to let your doctor know right away. They can help determine the cause of your symptoms and make sure you get the treatment you need.
What about kidney cancer screening?
As I previously noted, discovering kidney cancer early is important to ensure that treatment is successful. With that in mind, many patients ask if we can screen people for kidney cancer.
Currently, there are no recommended screening tests for people who are at normal and average risk of developing kidney cancer. But there are some situations where we may consider screening people who have a higher chance of developing the disease.
For instance, I might recommend screening to a patient with a family history of kidney cancer. I may also suggest getting screened for kidney cancer if you or a close relative have certain genetic conditions, including:
Hereditary papillary renal carcinoma
Hereditary leiomyomatosis and renal cell carcinoma
BAP1 tumor predisposition syndrome
Birt-Hogg-Dubé syndrome
Paraganglioma-pheochromocytoma syndromes
Tuberous sclerosis
Von Hippel-Lindau disease
People with advanced chronic kidney disease or those who’ve received a kidney transplant may also have a higher chance of developing kidney cancer and may benefit from screening.
If you have concerns about possible kidney cancer symptoms or your risk of developing the disease, I encourage you to let your doctor know. If necessary, they can refer you to one of our experts at Fox Chase. You might also benefit from a specialized consultation regarding your risk, like those available through the Fox Chase Risk Assessment Program. There, you’ll get help and guidance to understand your risk for developing cancer and what you can do about it.
Experienced, comprehensive care
If you have been diagnosed with kidney cancer, research shows that beginning your treatment in a specialized cancer center can result in better outcomes. At Fox Chase, our kidney cancer team includes surgeons who are internationally recognized for their expertise, and they regularly perform minimally invasive and kidney preserving surgical procedures that may not be deemed possible elsewhere.
Fox Chase offers the most comprehensive spectrum of kidney cancer treatments, and beyond the extensive range of kidney-sparing and minimally invasive surgeries, our medical oncology experts are leaders in the application of immunotherapy and targeted therapy, and other breakthrough medical treatments. We understand not all kidney cancer patients benefit from therapy, and we also maintain one of the largest active surveillance programs, to monitor smaller kidney tumors, allowing for that option when possible. And we perform image-guided alternatives to surgery—like kidney tissue ablation applying freezing temperatures (cryoablation) and energy devices, which can destroy cancer cells via microwave or radio-waves.
To schedule your consultation with a kidney cancer specialist at Fox Chase, call 888-369-2427 or request an appointment online.
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