Elderly people who have long-lasting dull pain in the waist should be alert to kidney cancer

Back pain is one of the common problems encountered by middle-aged and elderly people. It should be noted that many kidney diseases can cause back discomfort. For example, patients with nephritis and kidney stones usually have back pain symptoms, but back pain may also be a sign of kidney cancer.

Many kidney cancer patients will experience low back pain in the early stages of the disease, and low back pain is indeed a very typical symptom of kidney cancer. However, clinically, it is necessary to differentiate low back pain from low back pain caused by lumbar muscle fatigue, cold, and urinary system stones. The most common causes of low back pain are lumbar muscle strain, bone hyperplasia, etc. Low back pain caused by the urinary system, such as ureteral stones, is often unbearable colic. Low back pain caused by kidney cancer is usually dull pain in the internal organs, often confined to the waist. The pain is often caused by the growth of the mass invading the renal capsule. When the tumor invades the surrounding organs and lumbar muscles, the pain is more severe and persistent.

It is worth noting that kidney cancer will only cause pain when it grows to a certain size and irritates the capsule or muscles. In addition, since the kidney is located in the posterior abdominal cavity and has a large space, the tumor is not easy to be found. Therefore, regular physical examinations are more important for early detection of kidney cancer. Middle-aged and elderly people over 40 years old should have a physical examination every year, especially those with a family history of kidney cancer. Abdominal B-ultrasound, CT, and MRI can help patients determine or rule out the possibility of kidney cancer.