The kidneys are a pair of bean-shaped organs located on either side of the backbone that filter blood and eliminate liquid waste from the body by making urine. From there, urine is held and passed through a tube called a ureter into the bladder until it is released from the body. Cancer that forms from the lining of the ureter is called renal cell cancer, which is also commonly referred to as kidney cancer. Renal cell is the most common form of kidney cancer, accounting for more than 85 percent of all cases.¹

Other forms of kidney cancer include transitional cell cancer, which is more like bladder cancer and treated in a similar fashion, and Wilms' tumor, the most common form of childhood kidney cancer.

Disease Prevalence

• An estimated 38,890 new cases will be diagnosed and 12,840 people will die from kidney cancer in 2006. Renal cell carcinoma accounts for more than 90 percent of malignant kidney tumors.¹
• Men are twice as likely to develop renal cell cancer than women.¹
• Renal cell cancer is rare in younger people. The majority of cases are diagnosed in adults between 50 and 70 years old.¹

Risk Factors Key risk factors include:

• Diet and weight: Some studies show a link between being overweight or a diet high in fat and renal cell cancer.¹
• Long-term dialysis: People who have been on dialysis for a long time may develop cysts in their kidneys that can give rise to renal cell cancer.¹
• Age: Renal cell cancer is rare in children and younger adults; it is found mostly in adults between the ages of 50-70 years.¹
• Gender: Men are twice as likely to get renal cell cancer as are women.¹
• Overuse of certain painkillers: Painkillers containing phenacetin were once popular non-prescription medications, but they have not been available in the United States for over 20 years.¹
• Asbestos: Some studies show a link between exposure to asbestos in the workplace and kidney cancer.¹
• Cadmium: There may be a link between cadmium exposure and kidney cancer. Workers can be exposed to cadmium in the air from working with products such as batteries, paints, or welding materials.¹
• Von Hippel-Lindau syndrome: This disease, caused by an inherited gene mutation, increases the chances of renal cell cancer and other types of cancer.¹
• Tuberous sclerosis: Patients who have this disease often have cysts in the kidneys, liver, and pancreas and are more likely to get renal cell cancer.¹

Signs and Symptoms

• Blood in the urine
• A lump or mass in the belly
• Fatigue
• Loss of appetite
• Weight loss
• Recurrent fevers

Treatment Options

• Surgery: The most common treatment for renal cell cancer.
• Radiation: High-energy x-rays kill cancerous cells at the affected areas.²
• Chemotherapy: Drugs are injected directly into the bloodstream to kill cancerous cells that may remain after surgery.²
• Hormone therapy: The use of hormones to stop cancer cells from growing.²
• Clinical trials

¹ This figure is based on the male population only. American Cancer Society website, Statistics for 2005. (http://www.cancer.org)

² National Cancer Institute website, What You Need to Know about Kidney Cancer. (http//www.cancer.gov)