Daijiworld Media Network – Chennai

Chennai, Jul 17: Spotting blood in the urine, even once and without any pain, should never be ignored as it could be an early warning sign of kidney cancer, according to Dr Arun Kumar Balakrishnan, Managing Director, Chief Consultant Urologist, Robotic Surgeon and Uro-Oncologist at the Asian Institute of Nephrology and Urology, Chennai.

Dr Balakrishnan said kidney cancer often develops silently, with few or no symptoms in its early stages, making timely diagnosis crucial for successful treatment.

Blood in the urine, medically known as haematuria, is not considered normal. It may appear pink, red or cola-coloured, or may only be detected through a routine urine test.

"Whether it occurs once or repeatedly, with or without pain, it warrants prompt medical evaluation," he said.

According to the specialist, one of the biggest challenges with kidney cancer is that it rarely causes noticeable symptoms in its initial stages. By the time persistent pain, an abdominal lump, unexplained weight loss or fatigue develop, the disease may already have advanced.

However, Dr Balakrishnan stressed that blood in the urine does not necessarily indicate kidney cancer. Other conditions such as urinary tract infections, kidney stones, enlarged prostate or certain kidney disorders can also cause bleeding.

He advised anyone experiencing haematuria to consult a urologist for appropriate investigations, which may include urine analysis, ultrasound, CT scan or MRI, depending on the clinical findings.

The doctor noted that kidney cancer is more commonly diagnosed in people over the age of 50, although younger individuals can also be affected. Smoking remains one of the most significant and preventable risk factors, while obesity, uncontrolled high blood pressure, chronic kidney disease and a family history of kidney cancer also increase the risk.

Maintaining a healthy weight, avoiding tobacco, controlling blood pressure, staying physically active and undergoing regular health check-ups can help reduce the likelihood of developing the disease.

Dr Balakrishnan added that advances in urological care have made kidney cancer highly treatable when detected early. Minimally invasive laparoscopic and robot-assisted surgeries now allow many patients to recover faster with less pain while preserving healthy kidney tissue whenever possible.

"Early diagnosis not only improves treatment outcomes but also helps preserve kidney function and quality of life," he said.

He urged people not to ignore even a single episode of painless blood in the urine, emphasising that early medical consultation could make the difference between detecting the disease at a highly treatable stage and discovering it after it has progressed.