Blood in your urine? Doctors say it could be an early warning sign of kidney cancer
Kidney cancer is often called a "silent disease" because it can grow for months or even years without causing noticeable symptoms. Many people continue their
Kidney cancer is often called a "silent disease" because it can grow for months or even years without causing noticeable symptoms. Many people continue their daily lives without knowing that a tumour is developing inside one of their kidneys. By the time symptoms become obvious, the disease may already be at an advanced stage, making treatment more challenging. One of the earliest and most important warning signs of kidney cancer is blood in the urine, medically known as hematuria. While blood in urine does not always mean cancer, health experts stress that it should never be ignored. Even if the bleeding stops on its own or occurs without pain, it still requires immediate medical evaluation. Early detection can help doctors diagnose kidney cancer at a stage when treatment is more successful and may even save lives. WHY DOES KIDNEY CANCER CAUSE BLOOD IN THE URINE? Read Full Story Dr Rishi Raj Vohra, Consultant – Urology at the CK Birla Hospital, Delhi, explains that kidney tumours often grow silently without causing pain or other symptoms.
Blood appears in the urine when the tumour starts affecting the kidney's urine-collecting system, known as the pelvis and calyceal system. Some cancers that begin in these drainage channels may cause bleeding even earlier. Many people make the mistake of ignoring the symptoms because the bleeding may stop after a short time. However, this does not mean the underlying problem has gone away. Waiting for symptoms to return can delay diagnosis and reduce treatment options if cancer has progressed. PAINLESS BLOOD IN URINE CAN STILL BE SERIOUS Dr Umesh Gupta, Director and HOD, Nephrology and Kidney Transplant, Aakash Healthcare Multi-Speciality Hospital, Dwarkar, says one of the biggest misconceptions is that blood in the urine is only dangerous if it is accompanied by pain. In reality, kidney cancer often causes painless bleeding, making it easy for people to dismiss it. The blood may be clearly visible, turning the urine pink, red, or cola-colored. In some cases, the amount of blood is so small that it can only be detected during a routine urine test, a condition known as microscopic haematuria.
Whether visible or microscopic, both require further medical investigation. WHO SHOULD BE EXTRA CAREFUL? Dr Manoj Arora, Consultant Nephrologist, NephroPlus, says anyone can develop kidney cancer, but certain people have a higher risk. These include Adults above the age of 50 Smokers People with obesity Those with high blood pressure Individuals with a family history of kidney cancer For people in these groups, even a single episode of blood in the urine should not be ignored. Although many other conditions such as urinary infections or kidney stones, can also cause bleeding, only proper medical tests can identify the real cause. HOW IS THE CAUSE DIAGNOSED? Doctors usually begin with a urine examination to confirm the presence of blood. Depending on the findings, further investigations such as ultrasound scans, CT scans, or other imaging tests may be recommended to examine the kidneys and urinary tract. These tests help doctors determine whether the bleeding is due to infection, stones, or a more serious condition like kidney cancer.
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