Kidney Cancer Symptoms

January 7, 2026

This page was reviewed under our medical and editorial policy by Walter Stadler, M.D., professor, Department of Medical Oncology & Therapeutics Research, City of Hope^® Cancer Center Chicago

Early cases of kidney cancer (also called renal cancer) usually don’t cause symptoms. Many kidney cancer cases are first detected when the patient has an imaging test, such as an ultrasound, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or computed tomography (CT) scan, for a different health issue. Routine blood tests may also be the first sign of a problem. 

Here’s what patients and their families need to know about renal cancer symptoms.

Symptoms of Kidney Cancer

While there are often no early signs of kidney cancer, some people may begin to experience symptoms once the tumor becomes larger and starts to affect nearby organs. Possible symptoms may include the following.

• Hematuria: Blood in the urine. This may be visible or detected only by urine testing.
• Fatigue: Extreme tiredness despite resting.
• Flank fullness: A feeling of pressure on one side of the lower back.
• Flank pain: Lower back pain on one side not caused by an injury.
• Weight loss: Weight loss within a short amount of time, without dieting.
• Loss of appetite: Not feeling hungry despite not eating.
• Anemia: Low red blood cell counts.
• Fever: A fever that keeps coming back even though there is no cold, flu or infection.
• Varicocele: The rapid development of swollen veins around one testicle.

Many of these symptoms may also be signs of health issues other than kidney cancer. People who experience these symptoms should see their health care provider to receive an appropriate exam and diagnosis.

Renal Cell Carcinoma Symptoms

The most common type of kidney cancer is renal cell carcinoma (RCC). These are tumors that start growing in the kidney’s outer layer (renal cortex). RCC has more than 14 subtypes. Some of the most common ones are:

• Clear cell carcinoma
• Papillary carcinoma
• Chromophobe carcinoma
• Collecting duct carcinoma

The symptoms of renal cell carcinomas are the same as those of kidney cancer in general.

Symptoms of Kidney Cancer in Females Versus Males

Symptoms of kidney cancer in women are the same as those in men, with the exception of the possibility of varicocele (swollen veins around one testicle) in men.

However, in women, some symptoms of kidney cancer may be misinterpreted as other common health issues, which may delay diagnosis and treatment.

For example, blood in the urine or lower back pain on one side could be mistaken for a urinary tract infection (UTI) or kidney stones, especially if the patient has had these before. These symptoms may also be confused with those of pregnancy-related conditions, meaning that they could be overlooked during obstetrical exams during and after pregnancy.