Kidney cancer, often considered as a disease associated with older adults, has been increasing in people under 50, according to latest data released by NHS England. The data shows that diagnoses in people under 50 have increased in one year as the number of cases in this age group increased by 12% between 2023 and 2024, prompting experts to highlight symptoms that can easily be mistaken for less serious health problems.According to the figures, 1,227 people under 50 were diagnosed with kidney cancer in 2024, compared to 1,095 in 2023. Although kidney cancer remains more common in older adults, the increase sparks concerns about recognising early warning signs in younger people.A study published in BJC Reports, which analysed more than 200,000 kidney cancer cases in England between 1985 and 2020, found that incidence among people under 50 had increased substantially. The rise was 157% among men and 133% among women.Researchers said some of the increase may be linked to certain changing risk factors, including rising obesity rates, but other explanations still remain unclear.Kidney Cancer May Be Difficult To Recognise In Younger AdultsAlso read: Fruits & Vegetables May Help Prevent Acid Buildup Better Than Oral Sodium Bicarbonate In CKD: 10-Year TrialOne challenge is that kidney cancer may not cause obvious symptoms in its early stages. When symptoms do appear, they can resemble common conditions like muscle strain, urinary infections or other causes of back pain.Andrew Greaves, general manager of Kidney Cancer UK, told the Daily Mail, “It’s very easy to miss, notoriously so.”Back or side pain, chronic fatigue and night sweats are among the symptoms that can be overlooked. Greaves said around a third of patients report pain in the back, side or flank before diagnosis, while approximately one in four experience persistent fatigue and one in six report night sweats.Blood in the urine, also known as haematuria, is one of the key warning signs. Greaves said that these symptoms are not limited to cancer. “Even if you said, I’ve got all four of those symptoms, it could still be highly unlikely that it’s kidney cancer, but it might be.”Warning Signs Of Kidney CancerAccording to the NHS, kidney cancer may cause:Blood in the urine, even if it occurs only onceConstant pain between the ribs and waistA lump or swelling in the back, beneath the ribs or in the neckUnexplained weight loss and loss of appetiteChronic fatigueHigh body temperature that does not go downExcessive sweating especially at nightEarly Detection Of Kidney Cancer Kidney cancer can sometimes be discovered incidentally when a person undergoes screening for another health problem. This can make diagnosis challenging because early-stage disease may present few or no symptoms.Greaves said that more than half of kidney cancers are now found during scans conducted for other reasons.He also explained that kidney cancer is often diagnosed late as symptoms are initially attributed to other medical conditions. Around a quarter of patients surveyed by Kidney Cancer UK said they had initially been treated for another condition before getting diagnosed with kidney cancer.