Catching cancer early often means the serious condition is easier to treat. But to unlock the path to prompt diagnosis, symptom awareness must be front and centre. Fortunately, a doctor has outlined the three most common red flag signs of kidney cancer.
Dr James O’Donovan, a doctor based in the UK, took to his TikTok to warn that most people who are diagnosed with kidney cancer don’t have any symptoms, but it’s still important to know what to look for.
1. Blood in the urine
According to Dr O’Donovan, spotting a blood in the toilet bowl after you just went for a wee is the “most common symptom of kidney cancer”.
While this sign can also be stirred up by other things like infection, enlargement of the prostate and kidney stones, it’s “always important to see your doctor” if you see any blood in your urine.
He added: “Now, the blood doesn’t have to be there all of the time, it can come and go. And sometimes, the blood can’t be seen by the naked eye. But your doctor can do a simple urine dipstick test to check for this.”
2. Lump or mass in the kidney area
Another red flag sign that warrants seeing a doctor can appear in your kidney area in the form of a lump or swelling.
The doctor said: “Most kidney cancers are too small for you or your doctor to feel, but your doctor can arrange for a scan such as an ultrasound scan to check for cancer.”
3. Pain in the side between the ribs and hip
The last key symptom of kidney cancer is pain in the side between your ribs and your hip, which is called the flank area.
Dr O’Donovan said: “The pain can also go around your lower back. But just because you have pain does not necessarily mean you have kidney cancer. Pain in these areas can also be caused by other things like an infection or commonly kidney stones. But you should always see a doctor.”
Apart from these three red flags, the doctor also recommended looking out for the following potential kidney cancer signs:
- Losing weight without trying to
- High temperature and very heavy sweating
- Tiredness
- Loss of appetite
- General feeling of poor health
- High blood pressure
- Anaemia.
He added that while these symptoms can be caused by many other conditions, you should still see a doctor. Dr O’Donovan said: “Most people who have got these symptoms will not have cancer, but if you do have any of them, it’s important to see a doctor. That’s because if it is a cancer, it’ll be much easier to treat if it’s diagnosed early.”