Kidney Cancer

Kidney, or renal cell, cancer begins in the lining of the very small tubes known as tubules in the kidney. This form of cancer, also called renal cell adenocarcinoma, is the most common type of kidney cancer in adults. Cancer that starts in the ureters or the renal pelvis, the part of the kidney that collects urine and drains it to the ureters, is different from renal cell cancer and is known as transitional cell cancer.

Smoking and misuse of certain pain medicines, including over-the-counter pain medicines, can increase the risk of renal cell cancer. In addition, having excess body weight, having high blood pressure, and having a family history of renal cell cancer and certain genetic conditions, such as von Hippel-Lindau disease or hereditary papillary renal cell carcinoma, increase the risk of kidney cancer.

The National Cancer Institute estimated that about 80,980 new cases of kidney and renal pelvis cancer would be diagnosed and 14,510 people would die from these diseases in the United States in 2025. The five-year relative survival rate is estimated to be about 78%.

Renal Cell Cancer Treatment (PDQ®)

Source: National Cancer Institute