Kidney cancer is a dangerous malignant disease with a high mortality rate, but its symptoms are often silent, causing patients to be complacent and miss the golden window for treatment.

According to Dr. Hà Hải Nam, Deputy Head of Abdominal Surgery Department 1 at K Hospital, kidney cancer often develops quietly for a long period without obvious symptoms.

When symptoms become more noticeable, the disease has usually progressed to a late stage—survival rates are low and treatment becomes more challenging. This makes early detection of kidney cancer a significant difficulty.

Below are the common but easily overlooked signs of kidney cancer:

---

Blood in the urine

This is one of the most typical and common symptoms in late-stage kidney cancer. Urine may appear pale pink, rusty, or even bright red.

However, blood is not always visible to the naked eye and may only be detected through testing.

Hematuria can also indicate other conditions such as kidney stones or bladder inflammation, but if it persists or recurs frequently, medical evaluation is necessary.

---

Lower back or flank pain

A dull, heavy pain in the lower back or along one side of the body may result from a tumor growing inside the kidney and pressing on surrounding structures.

Unlike sharp kidney stone pain, this discomfort is lingering, mild to moderate, and gradually worsens over time.

---

Unexplained fatigue

Patients with kidney cancer often feel exhausted even with adequate rest. This vague fatigue may be due to anemia caused by impaired kidney function, which affects hormone production responsible for stimulating red blood cell formation.

---

Unintentional weight loss and loss of appetite

The kidneys play an important role in metabolism and waste elimination. When kidney function declines due to cancerous invasion, patients may experience nausea, poor appetite, and reduced taste for food, leading to uncontrolled weight loss.

This symptom is more common in advanced stages or metastasis.

---

Blood and electrolyte abnormalities

Some kidney tumors can interfere with blood function, causing anemia (symptoms include dizziness, lightheadedness, rapid heartbeat, palpitations).

The disease may also disrupt the balance of calcium, sodium, and potassium—electrolytes essential for heart and nervous system function.

---

Signs of metastasis

If kidney cancer is not detected and treated early, it may metastasize to the lungs, bones, or brain. At that point, symptoms may include persistent cough, bone pain, headaches, or seizures. These are late-stage signs indicating the cancer has spread beyond the kidney.

---

Kidney cancer currently ranks among the 10 most common cancers in men in Vietnam. Incidence continues to rise due to smoking habits, obesity, hypertension, and exposure to toxic chemicals.

Although dangerous, kidney cancer has a high chance of cure if detected early, thanks to surgical removal of the tumor or affected kidney. Today, laparoscopic and robotic surgery helps reduce trauma and shorten recovery time.

Dr. Nam advises the public to maintain regular health check-ups, especially if they have risk factors such as family history of cancer, smoking history, or working in hazardous environments. Early detection not only increases the chance of cure but also reduces treatment burden and medical costs.