Renal cell cancer may start quietly — but early action makes a difference.
Knowing your risks, recognizing subtle warning signs, and getting timely medical evaluations can help detect the disease when it’s most treatable.
If you notice any unusual symptoms — especially blood in your urine or persistent back pain — don’t ignore them. Early detection can save your life.
🔍 What Is Renal Cell Cancer?
Renal cell cancer (RCC) begins in the lining of tiny tubes within the kidney called renal tubules. These structures are responsible for filtering waste from the blood and producing urine.
RCC accounts for about 85–90% of all kidney cancers diagnosed in adults.
Although RCC can be aggressive, many cases are detected early thanks to improved imaging technologies — often when patients are undergoing tests for unrelated reasons.
⚠️ Why It Can Be Silent at First
One of the challenges with RCC is that it often develops silently.
In early stages, there may be no noticeable symptoms.
As the tumor grows, however, warning signs may appear, including:
• Blood in the urine (hematuria) — even if it’s only occasional
• Persistent lower back pain (not caused by injury)
• A lump or mass on the side or lower back
• Fatigue and general weakness
• Unexplained weight loss
• Loss of appetite
• Intermittent fever without infection
• Anemia (low red blood cell count)
Because these symptoms can be subtle or mistaken for other conditions, RCC is sometimes not diagnosed until it reaches more advanced stages.
🧬 Who Is at Risk?
Certain factors can increase the likelihood of developing renal cell cancer:
• Age (most common after 50)
• Smoking (doubles the risk)
• Obesity
• High blood pressure (hypertension)
• Family history of kidney cancer
• Chronic kidney disease or dialysis
• Genetic conditions (such as von Hippel-Lindau disease)
🏥 How Is RCC Diagnosed?
If renal cell cancer is suspected, doctors may recommend:
• Ultrasound or CT scan (to visualize the kidneys)
• MRI (for more detailed imaging)
• Urinalysis (to detect blood or cancer cells)
• Blood tests (to check kidney function)
• Biopsy (in select cases to confirm diagnosis)
🛡️ Treatment Options
Treatment depends on the size, location, and stage of the cancer, and may include:
• Surgical removal of part or all of the kidney (nephrectomy)
• Ablation therapies (destroying tumors with heat or cold)
• Targeted therapy (blocking cancer growth)
• Immunotherapy (boosting the body’s natural defenses)
• Clinical trials exploring new drug combinations
Early-stage RCC often responds well to surgery alone, offering an excellent chance for a cure.