Would it not be good if you could know if you already had kidney cancer? The problem with this type of cancer is that detection in the initial stages is very rare. Interestingly, kidney cancer is caught most often when you undergo X-rays or ultrasound examinations for some other medical reason. So, the early warning symptoms of kidney cancer are something that you must be aware of to be sure you can get treatment on time.

There are many reasons that make detecting early warning symptoms of kidney cancer hard, the biggest being the location of the organ. Kidneys are located deep inside your body and any small tumor here is least likely to be felt or seen during physical exams. When the disease has actually advanced and spread to other body parts beyond the kidneys, usually to the surrounding lymph nodes and bones, liver, or lungs, then you can notice the signs easily. At that time also, these signs are misread and thought to be for far less serious conditions.

While early kidney cancers will not typically show any signs or symptoms, the larger ones can. The common early warning symptoms of kidney cancer are

• Hematuria or blood in the urine
• Lower back pain especially on one side
• Fatigue and tiredness
• Lump on the lower back and/or side
• Loss of weight
• Loss of appetite
• Fever that does not disappear
• Anemia or low RBC count
• Swelling in ankles and legs

While each of these aforementioned symptoms may be brought on by kidney cancer, it can also be because of any other benign medical condition. For instance, blood in the urine can be because of urinary tract infection, infection in the bladder, or a kidney stone. However, if you notice these signs and symptoms, it’s best to get yourself checked by a doctor. He/she will be able to diagnose the real cause and treat you accordingly. He/she may recommend many diagnostic tests, urine tests, blood work, CT scans, MRI scans, etc.

Usually, kidney cancer can be detected before it moves onto other organs. When you have been detected with an early stage of kidney cancer you have multiple treatment options available. These will lead to positive outcomes. Unlike with other cancer types, your doctor can be sure about a kidney cancer diagnosis even without a biopsy. At times the biopsy is done mainly to confirm the diagnosis. Following this, you will have to undergo many more tests to ensure that cancer has not spread to other body parts or metastasized.

If kidney cancer gets detected early chances of surgical cures are high. The outlook will, however, depend on two factors:

• Aggression of Cancerous Cells
  Low-grade diseases are less aggressive and have less chance of spreading while high-grade diseases are more aggressive with higher chances of spreading.
• Spread of Tumor Spreads
  When the tumor has not moved onto the surrounding lymph nodes or tissues, your chances of recovery are better. When cancer has indeed spread, your doctor may prescribe some additional treatments.