{
  "id": 10820590,
  "title": "Kidney cancer is often silent – until it isn’t",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/30/kidney-cancer-is-often-silent-until-it-isnt",
  "topic": "health",
  "section": "Health & Medicine",
  "published": "2026-09-30T00:30:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Free Malaysia Today",
    "slug": "free-malaysia-today-freemalays",
    "url": "https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/leisure/2026/09/30/kidney-cancer-is-often-silent-until-it-isn-t"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Kidney cancer, often without symptoms until it progresses, remains a significant health concern. Renal cell carcinoma, the most common form, has a higher cure rate when diagnosed early. In Malaysia, approximately half of all kidney cancer cases are found at a later stage, making treatment more challenging. Dr Lee Kheng Siang, a consultant urologist and robotic surgeon, explains that early kidney tumours are typically silent, often discovered incidentally during routine abdominal ultrasound screenings. As tumours grow, symptoms such as abdominal or lower back pain, abdominal swelling, or blood in urine may develop. More advanced cases may also present with fatigue, reduced appetite, or unexplained weight loss. Diagnosis typically involves contrast CT scans of the kidneys and urinary tract, with a biopsy sometimes avoided prior to treatment. Early renal cell carcinoma can often be cured through surgery to remove the tumor, with options ranging from partial nephrectomy to radical nephrectomy. Preserving a portion of the kidney is often recommended, particularly for younger patients, those with a single functional kidney, or those at risk of chronic kidney disease. Surgical techniques include open, laparoscopic, or robotic-assisted procedures, with the latter two methods generally resulting in smaller incisions, less pain, and quicker recovery times. Robotic-assisted surgery, in particular, offers high-definition visualization and precise instruments, enabling complex partial nephrectomies that might otherwise require a full kidney removal. Despite the absence of symptoms in early stages, Lee emphasizes the importance of health screening to detect kidney abnormalities before they worsen. Early diagnosis allows for the removal of tumors without necessitating the entire kidney, which can enhance long-term recovery and preserve organ function.",
  "summary": "Early tumours may cause few or no symptoms, making routine screening especially important for timely treatment.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Free Malaysia Today",
        "title": "Kidney cancer is often silent – until it isn’t",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/30/kidney-cancer-is-often-silent-until-it-isnt-10826817",
        "published": "2026-09-30T00:30:00.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}