Serious Warning Signs Of Kidney Cancer

Persistent Flank Pain

Pain or discomfort in the upper back and abdomen that spreads to the sides and originates the region below the ribs and above the pelvis is called flank pain. When flank pain manifests due to kidney cancer, it typically only occurs in one side of the body. A growing tumor in or around the kidney can press against one of the ureters to the point where urine can no longer pass through it. The tumor may metastasize into the area where the ureter meets the kidney, down and into the ureter itself, or into the area where the other end of the ureter meets the bladder. One or more of these mechanisms can cause a blockage in the healthy flow of urine. The urine then builds up in the kidney, causing kidney swelling and tissue damage. This kidney damage and subsequent inflammation can cause an affected individual to feel persistent flank pain. A growing tumor in the kidney can metastasize into the main vessels that supply the kidney with oxygenated blood and nutrients. Should cancerous growths obstruct blood flow in these vessels, oxygen-deprived kidney tissues begin to die. This is called a renal infarct and can cause the patient to feel flank pain.