What is kidney cancer?
Kidney cancer occurs when abnormal cells in the kidney grow in an uncontrolled way. In advanced disease, the cancer can spread (metastasise) to other parts of the body.
The kidneys are part of the body’s system for eliminating waste as urine. There are 2 kidneys located on either side of the spine, around the waist level. They filter waste products from the blood and produce urine, which passes into the bladder through long tubes called ureters and is then eliminated from the body.
Kidney cancer, primarily renal cell cancer, often involves a single tumor in one kidney, with clear cell renal cancer being the most common subtype. While less common, other kidney cancers include transitional cell cancer, Wilms tumours, and renal sarcomas.
Explore statistics on kidney cancer, including the number of new cases, deaths, survival rates, and overall prevalence.
Risk factors for kidney cancer include smoking, obesity, genetics, family history, high blood pressure, chemical exposure, medication misuse, kidney disease, gender, and certain pain medications.
Kidney cancers often do not cause symptoms in the early stages of the disease, and sometimes cause very few symptoms, even if they have grown extensively or spread elsewhere.
There are no recommended screening tests for kidney cancer in people who are at average risk.
Kidney cancer may be diagnosed after you visit your doctor with symptoms. It might also be found during tests that are done for another reason.
Kidney cancer treatment depends on the cancer’s stage, location, symptoms, and your overall health, and may involve surgery, ablation, active surveillance, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, targeted therapy, or immunotherapy.
Living with cancer can be challenging, but you can find support from family, friends, health professionals, and cancer support organizations to help you cope with the emotional, physical, and practical issues related to your diagnosis.
Research is ongoing to find new ways to diagnose and treat different types of cancer.
Details for professionals seeking comprehensive information on kidney cancer diagnosis and treatment.
Last updated 23 September 2024
