Statistics of Kidney Cancer

Executive Summary

Kidney cancer occurs due to the mutations that make them cancerous. Around 76,083 people are diagnosed with kidney cancer as per the reports of the American Cancer Society 2021. Out of that, 27,300 women and 48,789 men can develop the disease condition. Estimates also show that around 13,780 people (4,990 women and 8,790 men) may die from kidney cancer and it is the ninth most common cancerous condition in women. It is twice more prevalent in men than in women. Additionally, the lifetime risk of men developing kidney or renal pelvis cancers has a rough estimate of around 1 in 46 (about 2.02%), and that of women is only around 1 in 80 (1.03%).

People belonging to the age group of 65 to 74 are developing kidney cancers. If we consider the years 2008 to 2017, the rates of kidney cancers have increased by 1% each year. Due to the timely diagnosis and apt treatment strategies, deaths due to kidney cancer between 2009 and 2018 have reduced by 1% and the 5-year survival rate of people diagnosed with kidney cancer is at 75%.

Kidney Cancer Statistics

Kidney cancer occurs when cells in the kidney region undergo mutations and become cancerous. As per the American Cancer Society, 2021 estimates of kidney cancer, around 76,083 people will be diagnosed with the disease. Out of that, 27,300 women and 48,789 men may develop the disease condition ^​1​. Estimates also show that around 13,780 people (4,990 women and 8,790 men) can die from kidney cancer.

Out of the ten most common cancer conditions, kidney cancer is one. Kidney cancer is the sixth most common cancerous condition in men. It is the ninth most common cancerous condition in women. Kidney cancer is twice more prevalent in men than in women. The lifetime risk of men developing kidney or renal pelvis cancers is at around 1 in 46 (about 2.02%), and that of women is only around 1 in 80 (1.03%).

Age Statistics

Commonly, people belonging to the age group of 65 to 74 are developing kidney cancers. The average age of people with kidney cancer is 64. The cancerous condition is not common in people below 45 years of age. The chance of the disease increases with age. The numbers mentioned applies to all kinds of kidney and renal pelvis cancer conditions.

The number of people diagnosed with kidney cancer increases with each passing decade. But with better treatment facilities and care options, many improvements have happened in managing this cancer condition. If we consider the years 2008 to 2017, the rates of kidney cancers have risen by 1% each year. Imaging tests (like CT scans) have played a significant role in detecting kidney cancers. Imaging tests can detect the most minor tumors in the kidney. Even if, the tests were for some other medical conditions. Due to timely diagnosis and apt treatment strategies, deaths due to cancer between the years 2009 and 2018 have decreased by around 1%.

WHAT IS 5-YEAR RELATIVE SURVIVAL RATE?

 Survival rates are estimates based on previous outcomes of larger numbers of people who had a specific cancerous condition. It is important to note that the survival rate does not predict the future or what will happen in any particular person’s case. 

Five-year survival rate gives an idea of what percentage of people with an identical type, stage, and grade of kidney cancer are still alive a certain amount of time after they were diagnosed with the disease. Analyzing this will help give people a better understanding of how likely their treatment will be successful and their chances of survival against the disease.

In relative survival rate, people with a particular cancer type and stage are compared to the overall population. The 5-year survival rate of people diagnosed with kidney cancer is at around 75% ^​2​.

In cancer cases, where the tumor is only located in the kidney, the five-year survival rate is 93%. Moreover, two-thirds of people with kidney cancers are diagnosed at this stage. For kidney cancers that have invaded surrounding tissues and organs or regional lymph nodes, the 5-year survival rate is around 70%.

Additional studies

Studies and researchers are still analyzing the different traits of kidney cancers- the size of the tumor, its stage, grade, type, its gravity, whether it is capable of affecting the lymph nodes, etc., to devise the survival rate of the disease. Survival rates are calculated post-surgical procedures for these cancers. And the studies claim that people with a kidney tumor capable of distant metastasis or can affect the lymph nodes have low survival rates, but the recent advancements in treatments (like immunotherapy) and technologies provide a new ray of hope to people diagnosed with metastatic advanced kidney cancer.

It is important to note that the figures mentioned in this article are estimates that can vary with time. Also, the 5-year survival data may not portray the outcomes of better diagnosis or best treatment options available.

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