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Kidney Cancer

  • Posted: 01/19/2011

About This Booklet

This National Cancer Institute (NCI) booklet (NIH Publication No. 10-1569) is about cancer that starts in the kidney. Other names for this disease are renal cancer and renal cell carcinoma.

In 2011, more than 56,000 Americans will be diagnosed with renal cell carcinoma. Most will be over 55 years old.

This booklet is only about renal cell carcinoma. It’s not about transitional cell cancer (TCC) of the kidney. People with TCC of the kidney have different treatment options than those with renal cell carcinoma. For the latest information about TCC, visit NCI’s Web site at http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/types/ transitionalcell or contact NCI’s Cancer Information Service at 1–800–4–CANCER (1–800–422–6237). About 4,000 Americans are diagnosed with TCC of the kidney each year.

Also, this booklet is not about childhood kidney cancer. Treatment options are different for children. For the latest information about childhood kidney cancer, visit NCI’s Web site at http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/types/wilms or contact NCI’s Cancer Information Service. Hundreds of children are diagnosed with kidney cancer each year in the United States.

Learning about medical care for kidney cancer can help you take an active part in making choices about your care. This booklet tells about:

  • Diagnosis and staging
  • Treatment and follow-up care
  • Taking part in research studies

This booklet has lists of questions that you may want to ask your doctor. Many people find it helpful to take a list of questions to a doctor visit. To help remember what your doctor says, you can take notes. You may also want to have a family member or friend go with you when you talk with the doctor—to take notes, ask questions, or just listen.



Glossary Terms

cancer (KAN-ser)
A term for diseases in which abnormal cells divide without control and can invade nearby tissues. Cancer cells can also spread to other parts of the body through the blood and lymph systems. There are several main types of cancer. Carcinoma is a cancer that begins in the skin or in tissues that line or cover internal organs. Sarcoma is a cancer that begins in bone, cartilage, fat, muscle, blood vessels, or other connective or supportive tissue. Leukemia is a cancer that starts in blood-forming tissue such as the bone marrow, and causes large numbers of abnormal blood cells to be produced and enter the blood. Lymphoma and multiple myeloma are cancers that begin in the cells of the immune system. Central nervous system cancers are cancers that begin in the tissues of the brain and spinal cord. Also called malignancy.
kidney (KID-nee)
One of a pair of organs in the abdomen. Kidneys remove waste from the blood (as urine), produce erythropoietin (a substance that stimulates red blood cell production), and play a role in blood pressure regulation.
renal cell cancer (REE-nul sel KAN-ser)
The most common type of kidney cancer. It begins in the lining of the renal tubules in the kidney. The renal tubules filter the blood and produce urine. Also called hypernephroma, renal cell adenocarcinoma, and renal cell carcinoma.
renal cell carcinoma (REE-nul sel KAR-sih-NOH-muh)
The most common type of kidney cancer. It begins in the lining of the renal tubules in the kidney. The renal tubules filter the blood and produce urine. Also called hypernephroma, renal cell adenocarcinoma, and renal cell cancer.
transitional cell cancer (tran-ZIH-shuh-nul sel KAN-ser)
Cancer that forms in transitional cells in the lining of the bladder, ureter, or renal pelvis (the part of the kidney that collects, holds, and drains urine). Transitional cells are cells that can change shape and stretch without breaking apart.