Kidney Cancer: Symptoms, Stages, Survival Rate, And Treatment Options

Kidney cancer is one of the most common cancers of the urinary system. It starts in the kidneys, usually in the tiny tubes that filter waste from the blood. In the early stages, it often goes unnoticed because it doesn’t always cause symptoms. But as it grows, it can lead to serious health issues.

This guide covers what to watch for, how doctors determine the stage of the disease, survival rates, and the latest treatment options- including some of the most effective medications available today.

Symptoms of Kidney Cancer

Kidney cancer doesn’t always cause symptoms right away, but as the tumor grows, certain warning signs might show up. These include:

• Blood in the Urine (Hematuria): This might appear as pink, red, or brown discoloration in urine. It can come and go and usually isn’t painful.

• Pain in the Lower Back or Side: A persistent ache or sharp pain that doesn’t seem to have an obvious cause.

• A Lump or Swelling in the Kidney Area: Some people notice a mass in their side or lower back.

• Unexplained Weight Loss: Losing weight without trying can be a sign of cancer.

• Fatigue and Anemia: Feeling exhausted all the time, sometimes due to low red blood cell levels.

• High Blood Pressure: Kidney tumors can interfere with the body’s ability to regulate blood pressure.

• Fever and Night Sweats: These can come and go and don’t always have a clear reason.

Since these symptoms can also be caused by other conditions, it’s important to see a doctor for proper testing if anything seems off.

Stages of Kidney Cancer

Doctors determine how far kidney cancer has spread using staging. The stage of cancer helps decide the best treatment approach.

• Stage I: The tumor is small (7 cm or less) and contained within the kidney.

• Stage II: The tumor is larger than 7 cm but hasn’t spread beyond the kidney.

• Stage III: Cancer has spread to nearby lymph nodes or major veins but hasn’t reached distant organs.

• Stage IV: Cancer has spread beyond the kidney to other parts of the body, such as the lungs, liver, or bones.

Survival Rates and Prognosis

Survival rates give a general idea of how likely someone is to live for at least five years after being diagnosed. However, these numbers don’t tell the full story; many factors, including overall health and response to treatment, play a role.

The Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database groups kidney cancer cases into three categories based on how far the cancer has spread at the time of diagnosis:

• Localized (Cancer Is Only in the Kidney): 5-year survival rate of 93%

• Regional (Cancer Has Spread to Nearby Areas or Lymph Nodes): 5-year survival rate of 75%

• Distant (Cancer Has Spread to Organs Like the Lungs or Bones): 5-year survival rate of 18%

• Overall Survival Rate for All Cases Combined: 78%

What These Numbers Mean

• These statistics are based on people diagnosed between 2014 and 2020. Since treatments continue to improve, today’s survival rates might be even better.

• The numbers reflect survival from the time of diagnosis. If cancer spreads or comes back later, survival rates change.

• A person’s individual outlook depends on many factors, including age, overall health, and how well the cancer responds to treatment.

Even in advanced cases, new treatments are giving patients better chances of living longer while maintaining a good quality of life.

Treatment Options for Kidney Cancer

The best treatment depends on the stage of the cancer, the person’s overall health, and how aggressive the tumor is. Doctors often use a combination of surgery, medication, and other therapies to fight the disease.

1. Surgery

For many patients, surgery is the first line of treatment. There are two main types:

• Radical Nephrectomy: Removes the entire kidney, and sometimes nearby tissues. This is typically done for larger tumors.

• Partial Nephrectomy: Removes only the cancerous part of the kidney, preserving as much healthy tissue as possible. This is often the preferred option for smaller tumors.

2. Targeted Therapy

Targeted therapy drugs work by blocking specific molecules that help cancer cells grow. Some of the most commonly used ones include:

• Pazopanib (Votrient): Slows tumor growth by cutting off its blood supply.

• Sunitinib: Disrupts several pathways that cancer cells use to survive and spread.

• Axitinib (Inlyta): A second-generation targeted therapy that works well for advanced kidney cancer.

• Cabozantinib (Cabometyx): Blocks multiple growth signals, making it especially effective in cases where the cancer has spread.

• Everolimus : Disrupts a protein called mTOR, which helps cancer cells grow and divide.

3. Immunotherapy

Immunotherapy helps the body’s immune system recognize and attack cancer cells.

• Checkpoint Inhibitors: Drugs like nivolumab (Opdivo) and ipilimumab (Yervoy) remove the "brakes" that cancer puts on the immune system.

• Combination Therapy: Some patients respond best when immunotherapy is combined with targeted therapy, which has shown promising results in advanced cases.

4. Radiation Therapy

Radiation therapy isn’t usually the first choice for kidney cancer, since the disease doesn’t respond well to it. However, it can help relieve pain and symptoms, especially when cancer has spread to the bones.

Emerging Treatments and Clinical Trials

There’s a lot happening in kidney cancer research, with over 87 new clinical trials launched since 2023. Scientists are testing new drugs, treatment combinations, and even different ways to deliver therapy. The goal is to make treatments work better, reduce side effects, and give patients more options.

Breakthroughs Changing Kidney Cancer Treatment

• KEYNOTE-564: The immunotherapy pembrolizumab has made history as the first post-surgery treatment to improve survival for kidney cancer patients. It lowered the risk of death by 38% over nearly five years, something no other adjuvant therapy has achieved in decades.

• CheckMate-9ER: A combination of nivolumab (immunotherapy) and cabozantinib (targeted therapy) is proving to be more effective than sunitinib for advanced kidney cancer. Patients on this treatment are living longer and doing better overall.

• LITESPARK-005: The newly FDA-approved drug belzutifan (a HIF-2α inhibitor) isn’t just slowing down advanced kidney cancer—it’s also improving patients’ quality of life compared to everolimus.

• CheckMate-214: A decade after it began, this study confirms that combining nivolumab and ipilimumab is still one of the best first-line treatments for advanced kidney cancer, offering long-term survival benefits over sunitinib.

• JAVELIN Renal 101: The combination of avelumab and axitinib is helping patients go longer without their cancer getting worse. Researchers are also looking at how different tumor types respond to treatment.

• FASTRACK II: Stereotactic Ablative Body Radiotherapy (SABR) is showing promise as a precise, non-invasive alternative to surgery for localized kidney cancer.

New Trials to Watch

• CAR-T Therapy (AB-2100): A new CAR-T cell therapy is being tested to help the immune system better recognize and attack kidney cancer cells. It targets PSMA and CA9, two markers found in tumors, aiming for a more precise and less toxic treatment.

• At-Home Immunotherapy (CCBW Program): Researchers are exploring whether nivolumab can be safely given at home instead of a hospital. If successful, this could make treatment more convenient without affecting results.

Clinical trials are the key to better treatments. If you’re interested in joining one, check out Clinicaltrials.gov and talk to your doctor about your options.

Final Thoughts

Kidney cancer treatment has come a long way, and more people are beating the disease than ever before. The sooner it’s caught, the better the chances, so paying attention to symptoms and keeping up with checkups really matters. Thanks to new targeted therapies and immunotherapy, even those with advanced kidney cancer have more options to fight it. If you or someone you love has been diagnosed, the best thing to do is team up with your doctors and figure out the best treatment plan.