ON THIS PAGE: You will find information about how many people learn they have this type of cancer each year and some general survival information. Remember, survival rates depend on several factors. To see other pages in this guide, use the colored boxes on the right side of your screen, or click “Next” at the bottom.

This year, an estimated 65,150 adults (40,430 men and 24,720 women) in the United States will be diagnosed with kidney cancer and renal pelvic cancer. It is estimated that 13,680 deaths (8,780 men and 4,900 women) from this disease will occur this year. Kidney cancer is the sixth most common cancer and the tenth most common cause of cancer death for men, and it is the eighth most common cause of cancer for women.

The overall five-year survival rate (percentage of people who survive at least five years after the cancer is detected, excluding those who die from other diseases) of people with kidney cancer is 71% Approximately 62% of people are diagnosed when the cancer is only located in the kidney. For this group, the five-year survival rate increases to 91%. However, survival rates are based on many factors, including the specific stage of disease.

Cancer survival statistics should be interpreted with caution. These estimates are based on data from thousands of people with this type of cancer in the United States each year, but the actual risk for a particular individual may differ. It is not possible to tell a person how long he or she will live with kidney cancer. Because the survival statistics are measured in five-year intervals, they may not represent advances made in the treatment or diagnosis of this cancer. Learn more about understanding statistics.

Statistics adapted from the American Cancer Society's publication, Cancer Facts & Figures 2013.

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