Unplanned Weight Loss and Fatigue
Unplanned weight loss [4] happens without you doing anything, such as dieting or physical exercise, to cause it. There are several reasons this may happen, but sometimes it is a sign of kidney cancer. The weight loss is usually rapid and happens when the cancer spreads into other organs from the kidney.
Kidney cancer also causes loss of appetite. This can contribute to the weight loss experienced by people with the disease.
Fatigue is a common cancer symptom. It is more intense and enduring than normal tiredness or weakness. Many people with kidney cancer experience fatigue [5] that interferes with their daily life and does not improve with rest.
In people with kidney cancer, fatigue may also be caused by anemia related to kidney damage. The kidneys help in the creation of red blood cells, which carry oxygen to several organs in the body. When this red blood cell production drops, fatigue often sets in because the muscles become starved of enough oxygen to produce energy. Fatigue may also be accompanied by other symptoms such as dizziness and shortness of breath.