Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsDiagnosisTypesStages5-Year Survival RatesCopingFrequently Asked Questions
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Diagnosis
Types
Stages
5-Year Survival Rates
Coping
Frequently Asked Questions
When someone receives a kidney cancer diagnosis, their first question is often about prognosis and survival rates. Of course, this is understandable.Renal cell carcinoma (RCC)is a common type of kidney cancer that occurs mostly in older adults. There also are other types of kidney cancer in adults and children.
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No matter what stage of kidney cancer you have, it’s important to remember that published survival rates are only estimates. They’re based on the experiences of people who have gone through the same type and stage of cancer you have.
Survival rates typically list the percentage of people who are alive five years after diagnosis. Since survival rates are based on the cases of people diagnosed at least five years ago, they don’t take current research and treatments into account. Nor do they account for individual differences in overall health and response to treatment.
For those reasons, it’s important to remember that your experience may differ, either positively or negatively, from published survival rates.
This article will describe each type of kidney cancer. It will also discuss the diagnosis of renal cell carcinoma, and five-year survival rates you can use as a ballpark estimate. RCC can be challenging, so this article will provide tips and ideas that may help you cope.
Kidney Cancer Diagnosis
Kidney cancer doesn’t usually cause symptoms in its early stages. Very often, people find out they have this condition during routine imaging tests or treatments for some other condition.
Certain risk factorsmay increase your chances of getting this diagnosis. Having risk factors or being part of specific demographic groups may make your doctor more likely to suspect kidney cancer, such as:
Other risk factors include:
Symptoms of Kidney Cancer
As kidney cancer progresses, it may cause certain symptoms. You may or may not have one or more of these common symptoms:
How Kidney Cancer Is Diagnosed
There are several diagnostic tests used when kidney cancer is suspected.Testing helps identify each cancer stage and the extent of spread you have, if any.
A physical exam will check for body pain and lumps in or around the kidneys. Your healthcare provider will also check forswollen lymph nodesand lumps or swelling in other areas of your body.
You’ll give a urine sample. A urinalysis will check for blood in your urine. In some instances, you may see blood when you urinate. However, it’s possible to have trace amounts of blood in the urine that are not visible.
You’ll give a blood sample. Ablood chemistry testprovides information about how well your kidneys, liver, and other organs are functioning. This test measures electrolytes (salts in the blood), glucose, fats, proteins, and enzymes (proteins that promote chemical reactions).
Acomplete blood count testwill be done to measure and count red blood cells (that carry oxygen), white blood cells (that fight disease), and platelets (cells that promote clotting). This gives information about your overall health and helps confirm a diagnosis of a disorder or underlying condition.
If the physical exam, urinalysis, or blood test indicates kidney cancer, imaging tests will be done. Imaging tests help identify tumors and areas of spread.
Acomputed tomography (CT) scanis a detailed X-ray study that can provide specific information about the location, shape, and size of a tumor. It can also identifycancer metastasis(spread) to lymph nodes and other organs.
Amagnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scancan show cancer spread into major blood vessels near the kidneys. These include the inferior vena cava. An MRI can also help identify cancer that has spread into the brain or spinal cord.
Angiography(X-ray imaging of blood flow) may be added to your CT scan or MRI. This test looks for signs of cancer in blood vessels that might nourish a kidney tumor, such as the renal artery.
Anultrasound(a type of imaging using sound waves) can help locate a kidney tumor and determine if it is solid orcystic(filled with fluid). Most kidney tumors are solid. An ultrasound may also help your doctor determine if a tumor is malignant (cancerous) or benign (noncancerous).
Renal cancer that has spread often affects the lungs. A chest X-ray or chest CT can show if kidney cancer has spread to this area of the body.
The bones are another place where late-stage kidney cancer often spreads. Abone scanlooks for evidence of kidney cancer in bones. It uses a small amount of radioactive tracer and an imaging camera to look for rapidly growing cells in the bones.
Kidney cancer is often diagnosed without abiopsy(taking a tissue sample and analyzing it in the lab). However, a biopsy may be done when imaging tests don’t provide enough information about your condition.
This test uses a needle to extract a small tissue sample in an area of the kidney where cancer is suspected. A biopsy may also be done on another organ or lymph nodes where spread is suspected.
Types of Kidney Cancer
There are several types and subtypes of kidney cancer. The location and kind of tumor determine which kind you have.
The main types of kidney cancer are renal cell carcinoma (RCC), transitional cell carcinoma (TCC), and Wilms' tumor. RCC and TCC affect older adults. Wilms' tumor occurs in children. RCC also has several subtypes that can impact treatment and prognosis.
Renal Cell Carcinoma
Renal cell carcinoma is the most common type of kidney cancer. Around 85% of all kidney cancer is this type.RCC occurs when cancer cells form and grow out of control in the lining of a renal tubule.
After the blood has been filtered, the renal tubules transport much-needed nutrients and fluids back into the bloodstream. The tubules capture and remove waste products in the form of urine.Renal cell cancer can start out as one or more tumors in the renal tubules.
Clear cell renal cell carcinoma:Clear cell renal cell carcinomaaccounts for around 70% of all cases of renal cell cancer.Clear cell carcinoma cells are pale or transparent when viewed under a microscope.
Papillary renal cell carcinoma: A form of non-clear cell renal cell carcinoma, it’s the second most common type. Up to 15% of all kidney cancers arepapillary renal cell carcinomas.These tumors usually contain fingerlike formations called papillae. The cells sometimes look pink under a microscope.
When there is no metastasis, papillary renal cell carcinoma presents with a better prognosis than clear cell renal cell carcinoma.
Chromophobe renal cell carcinoma: This subtype is also a form of non-clear cell renal cell carcinoma. It accounts for around 5% of all kidney cancers.The cancer cells that cause this subtype are clear in color, but much larger in size than clear cell renal cell carcinomas.
Transitional Cell Carcinoma of the Kidney
Transitional cell carcinoma of the kidney is rare.It starts in the transitional cells located in the lining of the renal pelvis. Transitional cells stretch or change shape to accommodate the flow and storage of urine.
When the tumor is superficial and there is no spread, this type of cancer is curable in around 90% of patients.Deeply invasive tumors that remain confined to the renal pelvis have a cure rate of 10%–15%.Once metastasis has occurred, a cure is no longer possible. However, treatments may help reduce spread and prolong life.
Wilms' Tumor
Wilms' tumoris a common type of childhood cancer that starts in immature kidney cells. Children are often diagnosed with Wilms' tumor when a kidney mass becomes large and causes pain in the abdomen. Blood in urine and high blood pressure are other telltale symptoms.
There are different forms of this disease. The stage of the cancer and form of the disease will affect the prognosis. Long-term survival rates are excellent in most instances.
Wilms' tumor with anaplastic histology (cells dividing rapidly and looking different from healthy cells) is an aggressive form with a less-favorable prognosis.
Renal Sarcoma
Renal sarcoma is a rare form of kidney cancer in adults. It occurs in the blood vessels, fat, or connective tissue that surrounds the kidneys. Less than 1% of all kidney cancers are this type.
Renal sarcoma can be aggressive, and metastasis is common at the time of diagnosis. Once metastasis has occurred, the prognosis is generally poor. However, early diagnosis and aggressive treatment can provide better outcomes.
Kidney Cancer Stages
Kidney cancer has five stages. These stages indicate the amount of cancer you have throughout your body. The higher the stage, the more serious your condition is. Each stage has a different potential survival rate and prognosis.
How Kidney Cancer Stages Are Determined
Kidney cancer stage is determined through diagnostic testing. Usually, imaging tests will be done to analyze the tumor or tumors within the kidney.
Imaging tests will also be done to identify metastasis in other areas of the body, including the lungs, brain, and bones. These tests may include CT scans, MRIs, a bone scan, and a chest CT or X-ray.
How Cancer Spreads
Cancer spreads through the body via these three paths:
The Stages of Kidney Cancer
Stage 1: Stage 1 is the first stage of kidney cancer. When kidney cancer is found during stage 1, you’ll have the most optimistic five-year relative survival rate. A stage 1 tumor is smaller than 7 centimeters and has not spread outside of the kidney. There is no cancer in the lymph nodes and no metastasis.
Stage 2: In this stage, the tumor is larger than 7 centimeters, but still hasn’t spread outside of the kidney.
Stage 4:Stage 4 renal cancerhas the least favorable prognosis. Kidney cancer is stage 4 if the primary tumor has entered the adrenal gland, located on top of the kidney. Kidney cancer may also be considered stage 4 if it is a tumor of any size and hasmetastasized to other parts of the body, including distant lymph nodes or other organs.
Stages 1 and 2 tumors are considered localized. Stage 3 and some stage 4 cancers are considered regional. Most stage 4 cancers are considered metastatic/distant.
5-Year Survival Rates for Kidney Cancer
Several factors can affect survival rates, and your prognosis can differ from these estimates. Starting treatment early can slow down or halt metastasis, significantly improving your chances for longer-term survival or cure.
Many people with kidney cancer survive for longer than five years. Ever-improvingtreatments, including targeted therapy and immunotherapy, have impacted favorably upon survival rates.
Other factors also play a role. These include:
Coping With Kidney Cancer
Coping with kidney cancer isn’t easy. It’s important to remember that not every person with renal cell carcinoma has the same esponse to treatment.
Living with a diagnosis of kidney cancer can be highly stressful. Taking care of yourself can help you feel better physically and mentally. There’s even some evidence that proactive behaviors can support longevity, such as exercising and eating healthy foods.
Quitting smoking also can help. Smoking cigarettes is a leading risk factor for kidney cancer. Of course, it can be stressful trying to quit, especially if you feel that the damage has been done.
However, data indicates that stopping smoking improves survival rates in people with clear cell renal cell carcinoma. It also lowers your risk of getting and dying from another disease.
Try to get enough sleep. Adequate rest can help you maintain your strength. You may need more sleep during cancer treatment while your body works to repair itself.
In your quest to support health, you may find yourself drawn to the supplements aisle of your drugstore. Talk to your doctor before taking supplements, even if they seem to be a health booster. Many supplements, just like analgesic pain medications, may harm your kidneys and shouldn’t be used.
Some people are more private than others, and it’s up to you how much you disclose to others about your condition. Talking to close friends and family can provide support and strength. It can also help to find other people who are going through the same thing.
Support groups, both online and in-person, may be a beneficial way to find new friends who know what you’re dealing with first-hand. You can find support groups throughCanCare, theAmerican Cancer Society, and other sources, such as your hospital or treatment care facility.
Summary
Most adult kidney cancers are renal cell carcinoma. They are often found at an advanced stage since the early stages have few symptoms. The prognosis for renal cell carcinoma depends on the subtype and whether it is localized or has spread regionally or distantly. Individual factors can make a difference in the longevity of any one person with this cancer.
A Word From Verywell
Renal cell carcinoma can be a scary diagnosis to get, especially if it’s progressed to later stages. Your symptoms and treatments may be best dealt with one day at a time. On some days, you may feel like you’ve got this beat. Other days may be harder to get through.
No matter what each day brings, remind yourself that the survival rates given for this disease are ballpark figures. Many people live and thrive well past average rates. Taking care of your physical and emotional health every day is proactive behavior that may help you feel better and live longer.
Frequently Asked QuestionsIt can be, depending on stage. Kidney cancer becomes more aggressive as it progresses through each stage. Certain types, such as renal sarcoma, may also be more aggressive than other types.No. When kidney cancer is caught early, it has a high survival rate.Some types of kidney cancer, such as early-stage Wilms' tumor, can be cured. However, cancer of any kind may recur. After getting a kidney cancer diagnosis you will need medical follow-up to look for signs of recurrence.3This may depend upon the type of tumor or tumors you have. The growth rate of tumors can be hard to study, since most people start treatment upon diagnosis or shortly thereafter.Surveillance studies of small renal cancer tumors in elderly people showed that tumors grew around 0.3 centimeters (less than 1 inch) in one year.
It can be, depending on stage. Kidney cancer becomes more aggressive as it progresses through each stage. Certain types, such as renal sarcoma, may also be more aggressive than other types.
No. When kidney cancer is caught early, it has a high survival rate.
Some types of kidney cancer, such as early-stage Wilms' tumor, can be cured. However, cancer of any kind may recur. After getting a kidney cancer diagnosis you will need medical follow-up to look for signs of recurrence.
3This may depend upon the type of tumor or tumors you have. The growth rate of tumors can be hard to study, since most people start treatment upon diagnosis or shortly thereafter.Surveillance studies of small renal cancer tumors in elderly people showed that tumors grew around 0.3 centimeters (less than 1 inch) in one year.
3This may depend upon the type of tumor or tumors you have. The growth rate of tumors can be hard to study, since most people start treatment upon diagnosis or shortly thereafter.
Surveillance studies of small renal cancer tumors in elderly people showed that tumors grew around 0.3 centimeters (less than 1 inch) in one year.
22 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Kidney Cancer Association.Fast facts.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Kidney cancer.National Kidney Foundation.Pain medicines (analgesics).Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry.Trichloroethylene (Tce) | toxfaqs.American Cancer Society.Tests for kidney cancer.UCLA Health.Types of kidney cancer. (renal cell carcinoma).National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Your kidneys and how they work.Hsieh JJ, Purdue MP, Signoretti S, et al.Renal cell carcinoma.Nat Rev Dis Primers. 2017;3:17009. doi:10.1038/nrdp.2017.9Deng J, Li L, Xia H, et al.A comparison of the prognosis of papillary and clear cell renal cell carcinoma: Evidence from a meta-analysis.Medicine. 2019;98(27):e16309. doi:10.1097/MD.0000000000016309Cancer Research UK.Transitional cell cancer of the kidney or ureter.National Cancer Institute.Transitional cell cancer of the renal pelvis and ureter treatment (Pdq®)–health professional version.National Cancer Institute.Transitional cell cancer of the renal pelvis and ureter treatment (Pdq®)–health professional version.St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.Wilms tumor.American Cancer Society.What is kidney cancer?Wang X, Xu R, Yan L, et al.Adult renal sarcoma: clinical features and survival in a series of patients treated at a high-volume institution.Urology. 2011;77(4):836-841. doi:10.1016/j.urology.2010.09.028Cleveland Clinic.Metastatic cancer.American Cancer Society.Kidney cancer stages.American Cancer Society.Survival rates for kidney cancer.Vijayvergia N, Denlinger C.Lifestyle factors in cancer survivorship: where we are and where we are headed.JPM. 2015;5(3):243-263. doi:10.3390/jpm5030243Ehdaie B, Furberg H, Zabor EC, Hakimi AA, Russo P.Comprehensive assessment of the impact of cigarette smoking on survival of clear cell kidney cancer.Journal of Urology. 2014;191(3):597-602. doi:10.1016/j.juro.2013.08.081University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics.Tips for better sleep for cancer patients.Gofrit ON, Yutkin V, Zorn KC, et al.The growth rate of “clinically significant” renal cancer.SpringerPlus. 2015;4(1):580. doi:10.1186/s40064-015-1385-9
22 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Kidney Cancer Association.Fast facts.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Kidney cancer.National Kidney Foundation.Pain medicines (analgesics).Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry.Trichloroethylene (Tce) | toxfaqs.American Cancer Society.Tests for kidney cancer.UCLA Health.Types of kidney cancer. (renal cell carcinoma).National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Your kidneys and how they work.Hsieh JJ, Purdue MP, Signoretti S, et al.Renal cell carcinoma.Nat Rev Dis Primers. 2017;3:17009. doi:10.1038/nrdp.2017.9Deng J, Li L, Xia H, et al.A comparison of the prognosis of papillary and clear cell renal cell carcinoma: Evidence from a meta-analysis.Medicine. 2019;98(27):e16309. doi:10.1097/MD.0000000000016309Cancer Research UK.Transitional cell cancer of the kidney or ureter.National Cancer Institute.Transitional cell cancer of the renal pelvis and ureter treatment (Pdq®)–health professional version.National Cancer Institute.Transitional cell cancer of the renal pelvis and ureter treatment (Pdq®)–health professional version.St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.Wilms tumor.American Cancer Society.What is kidney cancer?Wang X, Xu R, Yan L, et al.Adult renal sarcoma: clinical features and survival in a series of patients treated at a high-volume institution.Urology. 2011;77(4):836-841. doi:10.1016/j.urology.2010.09.028Cleveland Clinic.Metastatic cancer.American Cancer Society.Kidney cancer stages.American Cancer Society.Survival rates for kidney cancer.Vijayvergia N, Denlinger C.Lifestyle factors in cancer survivorship: where we are and where we are headed.JPM. 2015;5(3):243-263. doi:10.3390/jpm5030243Ehdaie B, Furberg H, Zabor EC, Hakimi AA, Russo P.Comprehensive assessment of the impact of cigarette smoking on survival of clear cell kidney cancer.Journal of Urology. 2014;191(3):597-602. doi:10.1016/j.juro.2013.08.081University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics.Tips for better sleep for cancer patients.Gofrit ON, Yutkin V, Zorn KC, et al.The growth rate of “clinically significant” renal cancer.SpringerPlus. 2015;4(1):580. doi:10.1186/s40064-015-1385-9
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Kidney Cancer Association.Fast facts.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Kidney cancer.National Kidney Foundation.Pain medicines (analgesics).Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry.Trichloroethylene (Tce) | toxfaqs.American Cancer Society.Tests for kidney cancer.UCLA Health.Types of kidney cancer. (renal cell carcinoma).National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Your kidneys and how they work.Hsieh JJ, Purdue MP, Signoretti S, et al.Renal cell carcinoma.Nat Rev Dis Primers. 2017;3:17009. doi:10.1038/nrdp.2017.9Deng J, Li L, Xia H, et al.A comparison of the prognosis of papillary and clear cell renal cell carcinoma: Evidence from a meta-analysis.Medicine. 2019;98(27):e16309. doi:10.1097/MD.0000000000016309Cancer Research UK.Transitional cell cancer of the kidney or ureter.National Cancer Institute.Transitional cell cancer of the renal pelvis and ureter treatment (Pdq®)–health professional version.National Cancer Institute.Transitional cell cancer of the renal pelvis and ureter treatment (Pdq®)–health professional version.St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.Wilms tumor.American Cancer Society.What is kidney cancer?Wang X, Xu R, Yan L, et al.Adult renal sarcoma: clinical features and survival in a series of patients treated at a high-volume institution.Urology. 2011;77(4):836-841. doi:10.1016/j.urology.2010.09.028Cleveland Clinic.Metastatic cancer.American Cancer Society.Kidney cancer stages.American Cancer Society.Survival rates for kidney cancer.Vijayvergia N, Denlinger C.Lifestyle factors in cancer survivorship: where we are and where we are headed.JPM. 2015;5(3):243-263. doi:10.3390/jpm5030243Ehdaie B, Furberg H, Zabor EC, Hakimi AA, Russo P.Comprehensive assessment of the impact of cigarette smoking on survival of clear cell kidney cancer.Journal of Urology. 2014;191(3):597-602. doi:10.1016/j.juro.2013.08.081University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics.Tips for better sleep for cancer patients.Gofrit ON, Yutkin V, Zorn KC, et al.The growth rate of “clinically significant” renal cancer.SpringerPlus. 2015;4(1):580. doi:10.1186/s40064-015-1385-9
Kidney Cancer Association.Fast facts.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Kidney cancer.
National Kidney Foundation.Pain medicines (analgesics).
Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry.Trichloroethylene (Tce) | toxfaqs.
American Cancer Society.Tests for kidney cancer.
UCLA Health.Types of kidney cancer. (renal cell carcinoma).
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Your kidneys and how they work.
Hsieh JJ, Purdue MP, Signoretti S, et al.Renal cell carcinoma.Nat Rev Dis Primers. 2017;3:17009. doi:10.1038/nrdp.2017.9
Deng J, Li L, Xia H, et al.A comparison of the prognosis of papillary and clear cell renal cell carcinoma: Evidence from a meta-analysis.Medicine. 2019;98(27):e16309. doi:10.1097/MD.0000000000016309
Cancer Research UK.Transitional cell cancer of the kidney or ureter.
National Cancer Institute.Transitional cell cancer of the renal pelvis and ureter treatment (Pdq®)–health professional version.
St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.Wilms tumor.
American Cancer Society.What is kidney cancer?
Wang X, Xu R, Yan L, et al.Adult renal sarcoma: clinical features and survival in a series of patients treated at a high-volume institution.Urology. 2011;77(4):836-841. doi:10.1016/j.urology.2010.09.028
Cleveland Clinic.Metastatic cancer.
American Cancer Society.Kidney cancer stages.
American Cancer Society.Survival rates for kidney cancer.
Vijayvergia N, Denlinger C.Lifestyle factors in cancer survivorship: where we are and where we are headed.JPM. 2015;5(3):243-263. doi:10.3390/jpm5030243
Ehdaie B, Furberg H, Zabor EC, Hakimi AA, Russo P.Comprehensive assessment of the impact of cigarette smoking on survival of clear cell kidney cancer.Journal of Urology. 2014;191(3):597-602. doi:10.1016/j.juro.2013.08.081
University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics.Tips for better sleep for cancer patients.
Gofrit ON, Yutkin V, Zorn KC, et al.The growth rate of “clinically significant” renal cancer.SpringerPlus. 2015;4(1):580. doi:10.1186/s40064-015-1385-9
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