Kidney cancer is the eighth most commonly diagnosed cancer in men and women in the United States.1 In 2009, more than 57,000 individuals will be diagnosed and approximately 13,000 people will die from the disease in the United States.1
Kidney cancer is the uncontrolled growth of cancerous cells that originate in the kidneys. While the specific cause is unknown, the most common type is renal cell carcinoma, which accounts for approximately 90 percent of cases.2 Other kidney cancer types account for 10 percent of cases.2
Risk Factors and Symptoms
- Age — the average age at diagnosis is 65 and incidence is highest in people between the ages of 55 and 84.3
- Renal cell carcinoma is uncommon in people younger than age 45.4
- Gender/ethnicity — for unknown reasons, kidney cancer is twice as common in men than women, and African Americans have a higher incidence.1,4
- Risk factors — inheritance of rare genetic conditions, family history of kidney cancer and incidence of advanced kidney disease, smoking, obesity, high blood pressure and exposure to asbestos, cadmium and/or organic solvents.3
- Symptoms — blood in urine, low back pain on one side not caused by injury, mass or lump on the side or lower back, unexplained weight loss and swelling of ankles and legs.6
Prognosis and Survival Renal cell carcinoma is more difficult to treat once it has spread (metastasized).2
Stage |
Description |
5-Year Survival Rate7 |
I |
Tumor is limited to the kidney and < 7 centimeters (cm) |
96% |
II |
Tumor is limited to the kidney and is > 7cm |
82% |
III |
Tumor is any size and has reached the adrenal gland |
64% |
IV |
Tumor has spread outside of the kidney |
23% |
Treatment
- Standard treatments include surgery, radiation, targeted medicines (monoclonal antibodies), immunotherapy, chemotherapy or a combination of these.8
- Early-stage kidney cancers are removed surgically when possible; when cancer has spread, surgery may still be part of treatment in combination with other methods.9
- Because advanced disease is difficult to treat, combinations of targeted medicines, immunotherapy or other new treatments may be used.9
References
1 American Cancer Society. Cancer Facts and Figures 2009. http://www.cancer.org/Research/CancerFactsFigures/CancerFactsFigures/cancer-facts-figures-2009. Accessed May 5, 2009.
2 American Cancer Society. Cancer Reference Information: What Is Kidney Cancer (Renal Cell Carcinoma)? http://www.cancer.org. Accessed February 24, 2009.
3 American Cancer Society. What Are the Risk Factors for Kidney Cancer? http://www.cancer.org. Accessed March 23, 2009.
4 American Cancer Society. Cancer Reference Information: Decline In Cancer Deaths Doubles http://www.cancer.org. Accessed March 12, 2009.
5 National Cancer Institute. Cancer Reference Information: What You Need to Know About Kidney Cancer http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/wyntk/kidney/page4. Accessed March 12, 2009.
6 American Cancer Society. Cancer Reference Information: How is Kidney Cancer (Renal Cell Carcinoma) Diagnosed? http://www.cancer.org. Accessed February 24, 2009.
7 American Cancer Society. Cancer Reference Information: How Is Kidney Cancer (Renal Cell Carcinoma) Staged? http://www.cancer.org. Accessed February 24, 2009.
8 American Cancer Society. Cancer Reference Information: How Is Kidney Cancer Treated? http://www.cancer.org. Accessed February 24, 2009.
9 American Cancer Society. Cancer Reference Information: Treatment Choices by Stage. http://www.cancer.org. Accessed February 24, 2009.