KIDNEY CANCER

To present more extensive information on this subject, Kidney Health Australia has prepared a special website dedicated to providing information on this complex condition.

Go to our sister website at www.kidneycancer.org.au where you can find extended information which includes:  
*What is kidney cancer  *Risk Factors  *Symptoms  *Stages  *Diagnosis  *Types  *Treatment *Statistics 
*What next?  *Support  *Resources

Download updated Kidney Cancer Fact Sheet for download and print.

WHAT IS KIDNEY CANCER?

Kidney cancer is a type of cancer that occurs in the cells of the kidney. Cancer is caused by the rapid abnormal overgrowth of cells within the kidney. Our bodies are always making new cells: so we can grow, to replace worn-out cells, or heal damaged cells after injury. This process is controlled by certain genes and all cancers are caused by changes to these genes. Changes to our genes usually happen during our lifetime, although a small number of people inherit such a change from a parent.

As with all cancers, kidney cancers begin small and grow larger over time. Kidney cancers usually grow as a single mass but more than one tumour may occur in one or both kidneys. These lumps can be benign (not cancerous) or malignant (cancerous). Benign lumps do not spread to other parts of the body.

When it first develops, a malignant tumour is confined to its original site. If cancer is treated in its early stages, the potential for cure of the cancer can be very good. If these cells are not treated, they may spread into surrounding tissue and to other parts of the body. When these cells reach a new site they may continue to grow and form another tumour at that site.

Incidence of Kidney Cancer
In Australia, kidney cancer is the eighth most common cancer, and accounts for 2.4% of all cancers. In 2007 there were over 2,500 new cases of kidney cancer diagnosed. This represents a 4% increase from 2003. The increase in diagnosed kidney cancer may be due to the ageing of the population, better diagnostic methods, or increased rate of coincidental diagnosis during scans for other reasons.

Australians have a 1 in 69 risk of developing kidney cancer before the age of 85 (1 in 49 for males and 1 in 110 for females). Males are currently twice as likely to develop kidney cancer as females. Kidney cancer is mostly a disease seen in adults aged over 55, and is rare in children.

Survival 
Worldwide, over 100,000 people die of kidney cancer each year. Kidney cancer caused 855 deaths in Australia in 2007 (539 men, 316 women), accounting for 2% of all cancer deaths, and for 0.6% of all causes deaths. The number of deaths due to kidney cancer is decreasing. From 2004 to 2007 the mortality rate for kidney cancer was reduced by over 2%. The 5-year relative survival for kidney cancer has improved over the past 20 years from less than 50% in 1984 to 66% in the period 1998-2004.

Different types of kidney cancer 
Around 85% of kidney cancers are renal cell carcinomas. These cancers begin to grow in the lining of one or both kidneys. Without treatment, this type of cancer can spread to other parts of your body.

Other (less common) types of kidney cancer include:

• Transitional cell carcinoma – starts in the join between the kidney and its ureter (the tube that drains urine from the kidney into the bladder)
• Renal sarcoma – a rare type of kidney cancer.
• Wilm’s tumour – a rare type of kidney cancer that affects children.

Useful weblinks: Cancer Council New South Wales Recommended: Understanding Cancer (kidney, bladder, prostate & more)
You can also call the Cancer Council of Australia Infoline at 131 100

Supporters: Our Kidney Cancer website www.kidneycancer.org.au has been prepared by Kidney Health Australia, with the assistance and support of Pfizer Oncology and Novartis Oncology via an unrestricted educational grant.

UPDATED 29 MARCH 2012
Disclaimer: Information provided is intended as an introduction to this topic and not meant to substitute for your doctor's or health professional's advice. All care is taken to ensure this information is relevant and applicable to each Australian state. Kidney Health Australia recognises each person's experience is individual and variations do occur in treatment and management due to personal circumstances. Consult a healthcare professional for specific treatment recommendations.