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Statistics at a Glance
At a Glance
Estimated New Cases in 2018 65,340
% of All New Cancer Cases 3.8%
Estimated Deaths in 2018 14,970
% of All Cancer Deaths 2.5%
Percent Surviving
5 Years
| Year | New Cases - SEER 9 | New Cases - SEER 13 | Deaths - U.S. | Percent Surviving 5 Years - SEER 9 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Observed | Modeled Trend | Observed | Modeled Trend | Observed | Modeled Trend | Observed | Modeled Trend | |
| 1975 | 7.08 | 7.38 | - | - | 3.61 | 3.58 | 52.31% | 48.30% |
| 1976 | 7.97 | 7.55 | - | - | 3.61 | 3.61 | 51.94% | 49.01% |
| 1977 | 8.06 | 7.72 | - | - | 3.68 | 3.65 | 46.79% | 49.71% |
| 1978 | 7.84 | 7.90 | - | - | 3.69 | 3.69 | 54.06% | 50.42% |
| 1979 | 7.63 | 8.08 | - | - | 3.63 | 3.72 | 50.44% | 51.11% |
| 1980 | 8.06 | 8.26 | - | - | 3.68 | 3.76 | 54.74% | 51.80% |
| 1981 | 8.49 | 8.45 | - | - | 3.73 | 3.80 | 47.72% | 52.49% |
| 1982 | 8.35 | 8.64 | - | - | 3.85 | 3.83 | 49.81% | 53.17% |
| 1983 | 8.94 | 8.84 | - | - | 3.85 | 3.87 | 53.03% | 53.85% |
| 1984 | 9.19 | 9.04 | - | - | 3.90 | 3.91 | 55.34% | 54.52% |
| 1985 | 8.94 | 9.24 | - | - | 3.96 | 3.95 | 55.47% | 55.19% |
| 1986 | 9.65 | 9.45 | - | - | 4.05 | 3.99 | 53.65% | 55.85% |
| 1987 | 9.90 | 9.67 | - | - | 4.14 | 4.03 | 56.86% | 56.50% |
| 1988 | 9.94 | 9.89 | - | - | 4.03 | 4.07 | 57.32% | 57.15% |
| 1989 | 10.32 | 10.11 | - | - | 4.16 | 4.11 | 56.65% | 57.80% |
| 1990 | 10.44 | 10.34 | - | - | 4.19 | 4.15 | 59.99% | 58.44% |
| 1991 | 10.65 | 10.58 | - | - | 4.30 | 4.19 | 60.49% | 59.07% |
| 1992 | 10.81 | 10.82 | 10.36 | 10.30 | 4.29 | 4.23 | 60.63% | 59.70% |
| 1993 | 10.76 | 11.06 | 10.35 | 10.44 | 4.16 | 4.28 | 61.26% | 60.32% |
| 1994 | 11.30 | 11.31 | 10.74 | 10.59 | 4.27 | 4.32 | 62.22% | 60.93% |
| 1995 | 11.12 | 11.26 | 10.69 | 10.74 | 4.34 | 4.36 | 61.64% | 61.54% |
| 1996 | 11.35 | 11.21 | 10.87 | 10.89 | 4.27 | 4.33 | 62.82% | 62.14% |
| 1997 | 10.96 | 11.15 | 10.79 | 11.04 | 4.27 | 4.30 | 61.91% | 62.73% |
| 1998 | 11.81 | 11.50 | 11.37 | 11.19 | 4.26 | 4.27 | 63.49% | 63.32% |
| 1999 | 11.45 | 11.86 | 11.28 | 11.35 | 4.06 | 4.24 | 62.71% | 63.90% |
| 2000 | 12.52 | 12.23 | 11.91 | 11.72 | 4.22 | 4.21 | 65.76% | 64.48% |
| 2001 | 12.61 | 12.61 | 12.19 | 12.09 | 4.27 | 4.18 | 66.68% | 66.42% |
| 2002 | 12.94 | 13.00 | 12.35 | 12.48 | 4.23 | 4.15 | 67.85% | 68.29% |
| 2003 | 13.57 | 13.41 | 13.02 | 12.88 | 4.20 | 4.13 | 69.20% | 70.07% |
| 2004 | 13.65 | 13.83 | 13.09 | 13.30 | 4.13 | 4.10 | 71.39% | 71.78% |
| 2005 | 14.07 | 14.26 | 13.49 | 13.72 | 4.13 | 4.07 | 74.78% | 73.40% |
| 2006 | 14.70 | 14.70 | 14.11 | 14.16 | 4.00 | 4.04 | 73.98% | 74.95% |
| 2007 | 15.61 | 15.16 | 14.98 | 14.62 | 4.02 | 4.01 | 75.31% | 75.22% |
| 2008 | 15.98 | 15.63 | 15.46 | 15.09 | 3.99 | 3.98 | 74.62% | 75.48% |
| 2009 | 15.37 | 15.61 | 15.09 | 15.07 | 3.93 | 3.96 | 76.30% | 75.74% |
| 2010 | 14.99 | 15.59 | 14.59 | 15.06 | 3.92 | 3.93 | 74.94% | 75.99% |
| 2011 | 15.57 | 15.57 | 14.91 | 15.04 | 3.94 | 3.90 | - | 76.25% |
| 2012 | 15.65 | 15.55 | 15.00 | 15.03 | 3.83 | 3.88 | - | 76.50% |
| 2013 | 15.56 | 15.53 | 14.93 | 15.02 | 3.86 | 3.85 | - | 76.75% |
| 2014 | 15.44 | 15.51 | 14.89 | 15.00 | 3.75 | 3.82 | - | 76.99% |
| 2015 | 15.68 | 15.49 | 15.32 | 14.99 | 3.81 | 3.80 | - | 77.24% |
Modeled trend lines were calculated from the underlying rates using the Joinpoint Trend Analysis Software.
Number of New Cases and Deaths per 100,000: The number of new cases of kidney and renal pelvis cancer was 15.9 per 100,000 men and women per year. The number of deaths was 3.8 per 100,000 men and women per year. These rates are age-adjusted and based on 2011-2015 cases and deaths.
Lifetime Risk of Developing Cancer: Approximately 1.7 percent of men and women will be diagnosed with kidney and renal pelvis cancer at some point during their lifetime, based on 2013-2015 data.
Prevalence of This Cancer: In 2015, there were an estimated 505,380 people living with kidney and renal pelvis cancer in the United States.
Survival Statistics
How Many People Survive 5 Years Or More after Being Diagnosed with Kidney and Renal Pelvis Cancer?
Relative survival statistics compare the survival of patients diagnosed with cancer with the survival of people in the general population who are the same age, race, and sex and who have not been diagnosed with cancer. Because survival statistics are based on large groups of people, they cannot be used to predict exactly what will happen to an individual patient. No two patients are entirely alike, and treatment and responses to treatment can vary greatly.
Percent Surviving
5 Years
Based on data from SEER 18 2008-2014. Gray figures represent those who have died from kidney and renal pelvis cancer. Green figures represent those who have survived 5 years or more.
Additional Information
Survival by Stage
Cancer stage at diagnosis, which refers to extent of a cancer in the body, determines treatment options and has a strong influence on the length of survival. In general, if the cancer is found only in the part of the body where it started it is localized (sometimes referred to as stage 1). If it has spread to a different part of the body, the stage is regional or distant. The earlier kidney and renal pelvis cancer is caught, the better chance a person has of surviving five years after being diagnosed. For kidney and renal pelvis cancer, 65.2% are diagnosed at the local stage. The 5-year survival for localized kidney and renal pelvis cancer is 92.6%.
| Stage | Percent of Cases | 5-Year Relative Survival |
|---|---|---|
| Localized Confined to Primary Site |
65% | 92.6% |
| Regional Spread to Regional Lymph Nodes |
16% | 68.7% |
| Distant Cancer has Metastasized |
16% | 11.6% |
| Unknown Unstaged |
3% | 38.0% |
Localized (65%)
Regional (16%)
Distant (16%)
Unknown (3%)SEER 18 2008-2014, All Races, Both Sexes by SEER Summary Stage 2000
Additional Information
Number of New Cases and Deaths
How Common Is This Cancer?
Compared to other cancers, kidney and renal pelvis cancer is fairly common.
| Rank | Common Types of Cancer | Estimated New Cases 2018 |
Estimated Deaths 2018 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Breast Cancer (Female) | 266,120 | 40,920 |
| 2. | Lung and Bronchus Cancer | 234,030 | 154,050 |
| 3. | Prostate Cancer | 164,690 | 29,430 |
| 4. | Colorectal Cancer | 140,250 | 50,630 |
| 5. | Melanoma of the Skin | 91,270 | 9,320 |
| 6. | Bladder Cancer | 81,190 | 17,240 |
| 7. | Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma | 74,680 | 19,910 |
| 8. | Kidney and Renal Pelvis Cancer | 65,340 | 14,970 |
| 9. | Uterine Cancer | 63,230 | 11,350 |
| 10. | Leukemia | 60,300 | 24,370 |
Kidney and renal pelvis cancer represents 3.8% of all new cancer cases in the U.S.
3.8%
In 2018, it is estimated that there will be 65,340 new cases of kidney and renal pelvis cancer and an estimated 14,970 people will die of this disease.
Who Gets This Cancer?
Kidney cancer is more common in men than women and among African Americans and American Indian and Alaska Native populations. The number of new cases of kidney and renal pelvis cancer was 15.9 per 100,000 men and women per year based on 2011-2015 cases.
Males
| All Races | 21.7 |
|---|---|
| White | 22.2 |
| Black | 25.3 |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 12.2 |
| American Indian/Alaska Native | 22.6 |
| Hispanic | 20.7 |
| Non-Hispanic | 21.9 |
Females
| All Races | 10.9 |
|---|---|
| White | 11.3 |
| Black | 12.8 |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 5.6 |
| American Indian/Alaska Native | 13.0 |
| Hispanic | 11.9 |
| Non-Hispanic | 10.7 |
SEER 18 2011-2015, Age-Adjusted
| Age Range | Percent of New Cases |
|---|---|
| <20 | 1.1% |
| 20-34 | 1.9% |
| 35-44 | 6.0% |
| 45-54 | 15.5% |
| 55-64 | 26.6% |
| 65-74 | 27.3% |
| 75-84 | 16.0% |
| >84 | 5.6% |
Kidney and renal pelvis cancer is most frequently diagnosed among people aged 65-74.
Median Age
At Diagnosis
SEER 18 2011-2015, All Races, Both Sexes
Who Dies From This Cancer?
Kidney and renal pelvis cancer is the twelfth leading cause of cancer death in the United States. The number of deaths was 3.8 per 100,000 men and women per year based on 2011-2015 deaths.
Males
| All Races | 5.6 |
|---|---|
| White | 5.8 |
| Black | 5.5 |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 2.7 |
| American Indian/Alaska Native | 8.4 |
| Hispanic | 5.0 |
| Non-Hispanic | 5.7 |
Females
| All Races | 2.4 |
|---|---|
| White | 2.5 |
| Black | 2.4 |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 1.1 |
| American Indian/Alaska Native | 4.1 |
| Hispanic | 2.3 |
| Non-Hispanic | 2.4 |
U.S. 2011-2015, Age-Adjusted
| Age Range | Percent of Deaths |
|---|---|
| <20 | 0.3% |
| 20-34 | 0.6% |
| 35-44 | 1.6% |
| 45-54 | 8.3% |
| 55-64 | 21.1% |
| 65-74 | 27.3% |
| 75-84 | 24.8% |
| >84 | 16.0% |
The percent of kidney and renal pelvis cancer deaths is highest among people aged 65-74.
Median Age
At Death
U.S. 2011-2015, All Races, Both Sexes
Trends in Rates
Changes Over Time
Keeping track of the number of new cases, deaths, and survival over time (trends) can help scientists understand whether progress is being made and where additional research is needed to address challenges, such as improving screening or finding better treatments.
Using statistical models for analysis, rates for new kidney and renal pelvis cancer cases have been rising on average 0.6% each year over the last 10 years. Death rates have been falling on average 0.7% each year over 2006-2015. 5-year survival trends are shown below.
More About This Cancer
Cancer and the Kidney
Figure: The kidney (including the surrounding fibrous tissue and fat layer, the renal pelvis, and the ureter) and the adrenal gland, as well as a close-up view of the renal pelvis.
This cancer forms in tissues of the kidneys. Kidney cancer includes renal cell carcinoma (cancer that forms in the lining of very small tubes in the kidney that filter the blood and remove waste products) and renal pelvis carcinoma (cancer that forms in the center of the kidney where urine collects). It also includes Wilms tumor, which is a type of kidney cancer that usually develops in children under the age of 5.
Additional Information
More Information
Here are some resources for learning more about kidney cancer.
- More about risk factors for kidney cancer
- More about symptoms and diagnosis of kidney cancer
- More about treatment options for kidney cancer
- More about clinical trials
- More about cancer prevention
References
All statistics in this report are based on statistics from SEER and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's National Center for Health Statistics. Most can be found within:
Noone AM, Howlader N, Krapcho M, Miller D, Brest A, Yu M, Ruhl J, Tatalovich Z, Mariotto A, Lewis DR, Chen HS, Feuer EJ, Cronin KA (eds). SEER Cancer Statistics Review, 1975-2015, National Cancer Institute. Bethesda, MD, https://seer.cancer.gov/csr/1975_2015/, based on November 2017 SEER data submission, posted to the SEER web site, April 2018.
Suggested Citation
All material in this report is in the public domain and may be reproduced or copied without permission; citation as to source, however, is appreciated.
SEER Cancer Stat Facts: Kidney and Renal Pelvis Cancer. National Cancer Institute. Bethesda, MD, https://seer.cancer.gov/statfacts/html/kidrp.html
These stat facts focus on population statistics that are based on the U.S. population. Because these statistics are based on large groups of people, they cannot be used to predict exactly what will happen to an individual patient. To see tailored statistics, browse the SEER Cancer Statistics Review. To see statistics for a specific state, go to the State Cancer Profiles.
The statistics presented in these stat facts are based on the most recent data available, most of which can be found in the SEER Cancer Statistics Review. In some cases, different year spans may be used. Estimates for the current year are based on past data.
Cancer is a complex topic. There is a wide range of information available. These stat facts do not address causes, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, follow-up care, or decision making, although links are provided to information in many of these areas.
