Often Ignored, Kidney Cancer Often Appears Without Clear Symptoms

Illustration of a woman (Photo: Freepik/jcomp)

JAKARTA - Kidney cancer symptoms often appear subtly and unobtrusively, so it is easy to miss. In many cases, this condition is only detected when it has entered a more advanced stage. Kidney cancer is one type of cancer that is often found and has a serious impact on health if it is not treated early.

One of the things that need to be considered is that the symptoms in the early stages are often not clearly felt. As a result, many people only realize that this condition has developed further, so it is important to increase vigilance against any health changes.

According to Kidney Cancer UK, about 4 out of 5 cases of kidney cancer are found accidentally. More than half of patients (55 percent) are only diagnosed after undergoing tests for other conditions. Therefore, this organization urges the public to be more aware of symptoms that are often ignored.

"Kidney cancer is often called a silent disease, because many people do not feel any symptoms until the condition is more advanced. That is why it is important to recognize the signs early," said Hazel Jackson, a nurse from Kidney Cancer UK, quoted from the Unilad page on Tuesday, March 24, 2026.

Jackson explained that kidney cancer symptoms are often non-specific, such as back pain, prolonged fatigue, or recurrent urinary tract infections, so it is easy to miss. One of the most important signs to pay attention to is the presence of blood in the urine, which is an important warning signal.

Symptoms of kidney cancer (illustration: ai/chatgpt).

This condition can appear in various forms, ranging from dark red or brown urine, pink streaks, small spots, to blood that is only visible at the end of urination.

In some cases, these symptoms only occur once and are not accompanied by pain, so they are often ignored.

"Many people think that a little blood is not something to worry about. In fact, blood in the urine is not a normal condition and should be checked immediately. The cause could be kidney stones or infections, but it can also be an early sign of kidney cancer. Don't ignore it," explained Jackson.

In addition, dull pain that settles in the back or side of the body, as well as unexplained weight loss should also be watched out for. Urinary tract infections (UTIs) that often recur also need more attention.

"Although most UTIs are harmless, repeated infections should not be ignored because they may indicate more serious kidney problems, although in rare cases," he added.

Other less common symptoms include loss of appetite, fever, and excessive sweating, especially at night.

"Symptoms of kidney cancer can be very subtle and do not always appear at the same time. Therefore, it is important to be more sensitive to changes in the body. Early diagnosis can save lives, because treatment will be much more effective if the disease is found early," added Jackson.

Jackson also reminded not to ignore any changes in the body.

"Take action immediately when you feel something unusual. If in doubt, you should get checked. You are the person who understands your own body best, and prevention is always better than regret later." he concluded.