Signs and Symptoms of Kidney Cancer
Early kidney cancers often do not cause any signs or symptoms, but larger or more advanced ones might.
For information on Wilms tumor, a kidney cancer of childhood, see Signs and Symptoms of Wilms Tumor.
Symptoms from a kidney mass
Symptoms from kidney cancer often result from the size of the tumor pressing on or invading nearby areas. Some possible signs and symptoms from a mass include:
- Blood in the urine (hematuria)
- Low back pain on one side, not caused by an injury
- A mass (lump) on the side or lower back
- Swelling in the belly or legs when a large mass blocks blood flow back to the heart
- Enlarged blood vessels in the scrotum (varicoceles)
Symptoms caused by hormone production
Some kidney cancers make hormones, which can cause certain symptoms. You might hear these symptoms called a paraneoplastic syndrome.
PTHrP (parathyroid hormone-related protein) is a hormone made by some kidney cancers. It increases blood calcium levels. Higher-than-normal calcium levels might not cause symptoms. But if it does, symptoms can include:
- Weakness
- Increased thirst
- Increased urination
- Changes in mood
- Low appetite
- Nausea
- Constipation
If cancer has spread to the bones, this could also cause high calcium levels in the blood.
Erythropoietin is a hormone made by a small number of kidney cancers. It triggers the body to make red blood cells. This could increase your hemoglobin level on blood tests.
Stauffer syndrome
People with renal cell carcinoma (RCC) can have liver problems, although this is rare. This does not mean cancer has spread to the liver. It is likely caused by some of the proteins made by RCC cells. These proteins can cause changes in liver function and blood tests.
People with Stauffer syndrome are more likely to have general symptoms such as:
- Fever
- Weight loss
- Low energy
The liver problems might improve once the kidney cancer has been removed. People who have liver problems caused by RCC tend to have a worse prognosis.
Other symptoms of kidney cancer
Some people with kidney cancer can develop general symptoms such as:
- Fever
- Low energy
- Anemia (low red blood cells)
- Low appetite
- Weight loss
These signs and symptoms can be caused by kidney cancer or another type of cancer. But they are more likely caused by other conditions, not cancer.
If you have any of these symptoms, see a doctor so the cause can be found and treated, if needed.
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- References
Developed by the American Cancer Society medical and editorial content team with medical review and contribution by the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO).
Atkins MB. Clinical presentation, diagnosis, and staging of renal cell carcinoma. UpToDate. 2026. Accessed at https://www.uptodate.com/contents/clinical-presentation-diagnosis-and-staging-of-renal-cell-carcinoma on August 12, 2026.
Chuang YC, Lin AT, Chen KK, Chang YH, Chen MT, Chang LS. Paraneoplastic elevation of serum alkaline phosphatase in renal cell carcinoma: incidence and implication on prognosis. J Urol. 1997;158(5):1684-1687.
McNamara MA, Zhang T, Harrison MR, George DJ. Chapter 79: Cancer of the kidney. In: Niederhuber JE, Armitage JO, Doroshow JH, Kastan MB, Tepper JE, eds. Abeloff’s Clinical Oncology. 6th ed. Philadelphia, Pa. Elsevier: 2019.
Shane E. Clinical manifestations of hypercalcemia. UpToDate. 2026. Accessed at https://www.uptodate.com/contents/clinical-manifestations-of-hypercalcemia on August 12, 2026.
Last Revised: November 2, 2026
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