Kidney cancer
What is kidney cancer?
The most common type of kidney cancer is renal cell carcinoma (RCC) which accounts for 80% of cases in the UK.1 RCC starts in the cells lining the minute tubes found within the kidneys' filtering units, called nephrons.1,2
The main types of RCC include:1
- Clear cell (~80% of cases)
- Papillary (~15% of cases)
- Chromophobe (~5% of cases)
Quick Links
Prevalence of kidney cancer
Kidney cancer is the 7th most common cancer in the UK (2016 – 2018).3 More men than women are diagnosed with the disease, with 63% of cases occurring in males and around a third of new cases each year occurring in people over the age of 75 (2016 – 2018).4
Kidney cancer prevalence3
Signs and symptoms of kidney cancer
There are both specific and non-specific symptoms associated with RCC.5
Kidney cancer symptoms5
Treatment options for kidney cancer
Treatment options for kidney cancer depend on the type and stage of disease and may include:6
Surgery
Radiotherapy
Cryotherapy
Immunotherapy
Partnering to support conversations about kidney cancer
We worked with Kidney Cancer UK to develop the Kidney Cancer Shared Discussion Guide to support patients to discuss kidney cancer with their doctors, nurses, friends, and family.
References
1 Cancer Research UK. Kidney cancer types and grades. Available at: https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/kidney-cancer/stages-types-grades/types-grades
Last accessed: July 2023
2 National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. Your kidneys & how they work. Available at: https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/kidney-disease/kidneys-how-they-work
Last Accessed: July 2023
3 Cancer Research UK. Kidney cancer statistics. Available at: https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/health-professional/cancer-statistics/statistics-by-cancer-type/kidney-cancer
Last accessed: July 2023
4 Cancer Research UK. Kidney cancer incidence statistics. Available at: https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/health-professional/cancer-statistics/statistics-by-cancer-type/kidney-cancer/incidence#heading-One
Last Accessed: July 2023
5 Cancer Research UK. Kidney cancer symptoms. Available at: https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/kidney-cancer/symptoms
Last Accessed: July 2023
6 Cancer Research UK. Kidney cancer treatment. Available at: https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/kidney-cancer/treatment/decisions
Last accessed: July 2023
July 2023 | ONC-GB-2200750