Stages of Kidney Cancer

Like all Cancers, Kidney Cancer can be Benign or Malignant.  If Malignant, the Tumor may be classified as Localized, Regional, or Metastatic.  Staging is a process doctors use to determine the extent of the malignancy.

Beyond this initial staging, doctors will also use sub-stages to properly categorize the disease and use it to recommend appropriate treatment.  Proper staging of a Tumor is crucial in order to provide the patient the highest likelihood of survival and subsequent recovery.  The American Cancer Society provides an excellent primer for Kidney Cancer that contains very valuable information including early detection and diagnosis methodologies, risk factors, detailed staging, and survival rates by stage.  We highly recommend obtaining this primer, which can be accessed here: Kidney Cancer - Renal Cell Carcinoma. 

Renal Cell Carcinoma (RCC) Stage, by Tumor Size

Source: National Kidney Foundation, 2011.

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Podcast:  Overview of Kidney Cancer

Dr Nizar Tannir
Urologic Oncology Surgeon
MD Andersen Cancer Center, Houston, TX

Podcast

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RCC: Survival Rate, by Stage

Source: American Cancer Society. “Kidney Cancer - Renal Cell Carcinoma,” 2011.

RCC: Survival Rate, by Stage

Source: Sun, et al., “Stage-Specific Renal Cell Carcinoma: A Trend Analysis.” European Urology, 2011.