In its early stages, kidney cancer often has no symptoms. In fact, abnormalities in routine blood tests may be the first sign of a problem with your kidneys.
However, a blood test cannot diagnose kidney cancer. Rather, a blood test can give doctors important information about how your kidneys are functioning.
Blood tests help your doctor determine what additional tests you may need. They are an important part of the diagnostic process.
For example, after blood work, your doctor might order imaging tests to look for additional signs of kidney cancer, or they might move in a different direction to look for the cause of your symptoms.
So, although a blood test alone doesn’t diagnose cancer, your blood test results are a very important part of the process.
A blood test is not enough on its own to confirm a diagnosis of kidney cancer. However, certain results could indicate kidney problems and a possible need for further testing.
Standard blood tests are often done during periodic health exams. Certain abnormalities could flag the potential for cancer.
There are a few types of blood tests that might be used in an initial cancer screening. These include:
Blood test results can indicate your kidneys aren’t working correctly and that more tests need to be done. Results that might prompt further testing include:
Blood tests are not enough to diagnose kidney cancer. If your doctor suspects kidney cancer, you’ll likely have a range of other tests to confirm your diagnosis. This often includes:
Often, there are no signs or symptoms of kidney cancer, especially in its early stages.
Kidney cancer is often found during routine blood work or testing for other concerns. When symptoms are present, they can look like symptoms of less serious conditions, like bladder infections or kidney stones.
Symptoms of kidney cancer may include:
It’s best to talk with a doctor if you have any signs and symptoms that make you suspect cancer.
Although most symptoms of kidney cancer are more likely to be symptoms of a much less serious condition, the
It’s a good idea to make a doctor’s appointment if you’ve had any concerning symptoms for more than 2 weeks.
Blood tests can’t confirm kidney cancer, but they can help indicate problems with kidney function. They’re often one of the first tests a doctor will order if kidney cancer is suspected.
Blood tests can look at the levels of cells and chemicals in your blood and be the first step in an accurate diagnosis.
Additional tests for kidney cancer include imaging tests and biopsies. With these tests, doctors can confirm a diagnosis, see tumors, determine the spread of cancer, and stage the tumor. Diagnosis is the first step to getting treatment for kidney cancer.
Last medically reviewed on June 22, 2022
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