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:3
- Clear cell (~80% of cases)
- Papillary (~15% of cases)
- Chromophobe (~5% of cases)
- Collecting (Bellini) Duct (~1% of cases)
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Prevalence of kidney cancer
Kidney cancer is the 6th most common cancer in the UK (2017 – 2019).4 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 (2017 – 2019).4
Kidney cancer prevalence4
Signs and symptoms of kidney cancer
There are both specific and non-specific symptoms associated with RCC.5
Kidney cancer symptoms5
These symptoms may not always be symptoms of kidney cancer and can be caused by many other conditions. Please always speak to your doctor, pharmacist or nurse for further information.
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
Targeted or immunotherapy cancer drugs
Microwave or radiofrequency ablation
Renal arterial embolisation (blocking the blood supply to the cancer)
References
1 Cancer Research UK. Types and grades of kidney cancer. Available at: https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/kidney-cancer/stages-types-grades/types-grades
Last accessed: July 2025
2 Cancer Research UK. What is kidney cancer? Available at: https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/kidney-cancer/about
Last accessed: July 2025
3 Pandey J, Syed W. Renal Cancer. [Updated 2024 Oct 4]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2025 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK558975/
Last accessed: July 2025
4 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 2025
5 Cancer Research UK. Symptoms of kidney cancer. Available at: https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/kidney-cancer/symptoms
Last accessed: July 2025
6 Cancer Research UK. Treatment options for kidney cancer. Available at: https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/kidney-cancer/treatment/decisions
Last accessed: July 2025
July 2025 | ONC-GB-2500013