Kidney cancer originates in the kidneys, two bean-shaped organs each about the size of your fist. They’re located behind your abdominal organs, with one kidney on each side of your spine.
In adults, the most common type of kidney cancer is renal cell carcinoma. Also known as hypernephroma, grawitz tumor or renal adenocarcinoma.
About this Cancer
- In 2025, an estimated 9,100 new kidney and renal pelvis cancer cases will be diagnosed (6,000 males and 3,100 females).
- An estimated 1,950 people are estimated to die from kidney and renal pelvis cancer in Canada in 2025 (1,300 males and 670 females).
Source: Canadian Cancer Statistics 2025
- Blood found in the urine
- Pain in the lower back, particularly on one side
- A lump that is found on the side or lower back
- Swelling of the legs and ankles
- Elevated blood pressure
- Reduced red blood cell count
- Fatigue
- Weight loss
- Decreased appetite
- Fever that does not seem to go away
For more information visit Kidney Cancer Canada
Kidney cancer risk factors include:
- Obesity or overweight
- Smoking
- Elevated blood pressure (hypertension)
- Certain inherited syndromes, like von Hippel-Lindau syndrome, Birt-Hogg-Dubé syndrome, tuberous sclerosis complex and hereditary papillary renal carcinoma
- Familial history of kidney cancer
- Work exposure to certain chemicals
- Advanced kidney disease
For more information, visit Kidney Cancer Canada
Diagnosis of kidney cancer can be done through:
- Urinalysis
- Blood chemistry tests
- Complete blood count
- Imaging tests, for example: CT scan, Ultrasound, MRI, Bone scan, chest X-ray
- Biopsy
For more information visit Kidney Cancer Canada.
Treatments options for kidney cancer include:
- Surgery
- Radiation therapy
- Ablation Therapy
- Active Surveillance
- Targeted therapy
- Immunotherapy
For more information, visit Kidney Cancer Canada
Stories from Other Groups
We currently do not have any kidney cancer stories. If you know of any, please send them to us at info@survivornet.ca.
Resources
- Kidney Cancer and Chronic Kidney Disease from the Kidney Foundation
- Kidney Cancer Canada’s Treatment Guide
- Supportive care for kidney cancer
- Optimizing your health | Kidney Cancer Canada
- Webinar: Kidney Cancer and Chronic Kidney Disease
- Living Well with Kidney Cancer | KidneyCAN Patient Resource Center
- Caregiver Essentials | Kidney Cancer Association (KCA)
- Kidney Cancer: Care Instructions
- Free resources for patients and caregivers | Kidney Cancer Canada
- Newly Diagnosed? | Kidney Cancer Canada
- Kidney Cancer Support Group – Groupe de soutien du cancer du rein | Facebook
- August 14th, 2024 – Children’s Research Institute at UT Southwestern scientists discover kidney cancers rely on mitochondrial metabolism to metastasize – UT Southwestern Medical Center
- April 4th, 2024 – AACR: Novel immunotherapies show promise for patients with kidney cancer and for solid organ transplant recipients with skin cancer – University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center
- March 13, 2023 – Genes Reveal Kidney Cancer’s Risk of Recurrence – Kidney Foundation
- November 21, 2024 – Kidney cancer discoveries open new avenue for treatment – Ontario Institute for Cancer Research
- February 26, 2024 – Advances in the management of renal cell carcinoma | CMAJ
- January 27 2025 – Diagnostic performance of artificial intelligence in detection of renal cell carcinoma: a systematic review and meta-analysis | BMC Cancer
- May 21 2024 – Adjuvant Keytruda Improves Kidney Cancer Survival – NCI
- May 9th 2025 – Ultrasound in Renal Cancer Screening: A Review of the Literature – PMC
Kidney Cancer Groups
Kidney Cancer Canada: “Kidney Cancer Canada is a national community of patients, caregivers and health professionals who work to provide every Canadian touched by kidney cancer with support, education and advocacy for their care pathways and treatment options.”