What is kidney cancer?
Kidney cancer is a cancer that starts in the kidneys. It may also be referred to as renal cancer or renal carcinoma.
In 2018, it was estimated that an Ontario male’s lifetime probability of developing kidney cancer is 1 in 64. An Ontario female’s lifetime risk is 1 in 121.*
Kidneys are about the size of a fist and there is one on either side of the spine near the bottom of the rib cage. Most people have 2 kidneys, although you can survive with only 1 functioning kidney. Kidneys are part of the urinary system, also referred to as the renal system.
Kidneys help to keep you healthy. Learn how you can protect yourself against kidney (renal) cancer.
Kidneys are essential organs that perform a number of important functions. Within each kidney there are:
- Tiny filters (called nephrons) that clean waste and water from the blood
- Tubes (called tubules) that
- reabsorb water, which helps to keep us hydrated and helps to regulate levels of important electrolytes, such as potassium and sodium (salt)
- send waste products to be excreted in the urine
- A funnel-like structure, called the renal pelvis, that directs urine through the ureter into the bladder, where it is stored until you urinate
The kidneys also produce a number of important hormones. For example, hormones produced by the kidneys help to regulate blood pressure, blood sugar and the production of red blood cells. The functioning of the kidneys can be impaired by factors such as disease, infections, inherited or congenital disorders, or benign or cancerous tumours.
Benign or non-cancerous changes in the cells that make up the kidneys can result in the formation of:
- cysts, which are round or oval fluid-filled pockets
- benign tumours
In some cases, tumours in the kidney may become cancerous. Malignant (cancerous) tumours may grow uncontrollably or interfere with the normal functioning of the kidneys.
The most common form of kidney cancer is called renal cell carcinoma. This cancer starts in the tubules and accounts for about 90% of all cases of kidney cancer. Less commonly, cancer can form in the renal pelvis (the top part of the ureter) or the collecting ducts (part of the tubule system).
*The source of data used in the My CancerIQ Kidney Cancer Risk Assessment is based on people who were assigned male or female at birth. Because of this, gender binary language (male, female, man, woman) may sometimes be used. If your gender is different from your sex assigned at birth, My CancerIQ may not assess your risk accurately. Talk to your doctor or nurse practitioner about your risk of developing kidney cancer.
Risk factors you can change or control
High blood pressure
Blood pressure is the force exerted on the walls of the blood vessels as blood is pumped through the body. Blood pressure changes throughout the day and according to what you are doing. But if your blood pressure is consistently higher than what is considered “normal” or “healthy,” it can damage the walls of the blood vessels. Having high blood pressure (hypertension) increases the risk of kidney cancer.
The risk of developing high blood pressure is higher if you have a family history of hypertension, are sedentary or overweight, eat a poor diet or drink too much alcohol. The risk of high blood pressure may also increase with age.
If you have been diagnosed with high blood pressure, it is important to make changes to help lower your blood pressure and keep it in a healthy range. This can include making lifestyle changes, such as eating healthier or becoming more active. In some cases, your doctor or nurse practitioner may prescribe blood-pressure-lowering medications.
Body weight
Body Mass Index (BMI) is an estimate of health based on height and weight. Having a higher BMI may increase the risk of developing kidney cancer. Note that the BMI may not be right for you if you are younger than age 18 or older than age 65, if you are pregnant, breastfeeding or chestfeeding*, or if you are an adult with a highly muscular or very lean body type. In these cases, talk to your doctor or nurse practitioner about ways to improve your health. Eating a healthy diet and regular physical activity can help you stay healthy.
*Some people, including trans men, transmasculine people and nonbinary people, may prefer using the term "chest" when describing the breasts and the terms "chestfeed" or "chestfeeding" to describe the process of nursing. The terms “breast,” "breastfeed" and "breastfeeding" are still used to make sure the language is clear for everyone.
Smoking
Smoking increases the risk of developing many types of cancer, including kidney cancer. Cigarette smoke has over 70 chemicals that are known to cause cancer. There is no safe amount of smoking. Some studies estimate smoking increases the risk of developing kidney cancer by up to 50%. Other studies suggest smoking increases the risk of kidney cancer even more. The risk increases with the amount you smoke.
Alcohol
While some studies suggest that drinking alcohol may lower the risk of developing kidney cancer, it increases the risk of developing many other chronic diseases and cancers, including breast and colorectal cancer. Alcohol may damage the DNA of cells or allow other cancer-causing chemicals to enter cells more easily. More research is needed to understand the link between alcohol and kidney cancer.
Risk factors you cannot change or control
Family history
Studies suggest that having a first-degree relative, such as a biological parent, sibling or child (i.e., an immediate family member related to you by blood) with kidney cancer nearly doubles your own risk of developing the disease.
There are also some rare inherited (genetic) forms of kidney cancer.
Hysterectomy
Hysterectomy is a surgery that removes the uterus (womb), sometimes the ovaries and sometimes all, or part of, the cervix. Some studies suggest that you may have a higher risk of developing kidney cancer if you have had a hysterectomy. More research is needed to find out what leads to this higher risk and the role of partial versus total hysterectomy.
Height
Some research shows that tall people may have a slightly higher risk of getting kidney cancer than people who are not tall. The exact reason for this relationship is not known. It is thought that height may be linked to genetic, environmental, hormonal and nutritional factors that affect growth.
What you can do to protect yourself
Manage your blood pressure
You can help to keep your blood pressure in a healthy range by:
- Eating a healthy diet that is low in salt (sodium)
- Keeping and maintaining a healthy weight
- Regular physical activity
- Being smoke-free
- If you drink alcohol, limiting your alcohol consumption
- Managing your stress level
If you have been diagnosed with high blood pressure and have been prescribed medication to lower your blood pressure, it is important to take it regularly, as instructed by your doctor or nurse practitioner. Never stop taking your medication without consulting with your doctor or nurse practitioner.
For more information on high blood pressure, visit Hypertension Canada.
Reduce body fat
Large amounts of body fat can increase the risk of kidney cancer. The good news is that small changes in what you eat and physical activity can lead to a modest reduction in fat – and the reduction of kidney cancer risk. Making small but consistent changes is a lot safer – and is more likely to lead to long-term success – than going on some extreme diet or weight loss plan.
Some tried-and-true methods to lose body fat include:
- Cutting down on portion sizes, eating a variety of vegetables and fruit and avoiding high-fat foods.
- Eating at regular intervals throughout the day (78% report they eat breakfast every day).
- Tracking your weight regularly (75% say they weigh themselves at least once a week).
- Regular physical activity. The most common form of activity was walking and many reported breaking their activity into chunks throughout the day or incorporating it into their everyday routine, such as walking to work.
Learn more:
- Get tips for healthy eating at UnlockFood.ca.
- You can speak for free with a Registered Dietitian by calling Health811 at 811 (TTY 1-866-797-0007). Ask about programs or resources available in your community or through your local Public Health Unit.
- Find out about Body Mass Index and the relationship between weight and health at Canadian Cancer Society’s website.
Become smoke-free
Cigarette smoke – whether it is your own or someone else’s second-hand smoke – can affect your immune system, damage DNA and increase the risk of developing cancer. Even if you see yourself as a person who smokes, you can change that. Over half of people in Ontario who have ever smoked have been able to quit. Of the people who still smoke, nearly half try to quit each year. Sometimes, people need to try quitting several times before they become permanently smoke-free. Each time you try to quit smoking, you move closer to your goal of being smoke-free.
Tips if you are thinking about quitting now or soon
- There is no one “right” way to quit. Different people may use different approaches, so it is good to learn about all of your options. For example, nearly 6 out of 10 people who try to quit smoking use something to help them, such as nicotine replacement therapy, prescription medications, calling telephone quit lines or taking a smoking cessation class. Talk with your doctor, nurse practitioner or pharmacist about the different options and which may be better for you.
- Planning is the key to success. Make a plan for how you will quit (cutting down, cold turkey or using a smoking cessation aid), when you will start (your quit date), and who will help you and be your quit smoking buddy or coach.
- Write out your reasons for quitting and post them someplace where you will see them regularly. Everyone has their own reasons to quit. It may be something like:
- I want to feel better.
- I don’t want to die and leave my family.
- I don’t like how I look when I smoke cigarettes.
- I don’t want to pollute the air my family breathes.
- I’m tired of being out of breath.
- I don’t like how cigarettes make me smell.
- Most people who smoke find that certain places or activities trigger them to smoke. Think about your smoking triggers and what you can do to avoid these places or activities. Then try to think of what you can do to avoid these places or activities. For example, if you always have a cigarette with your morning coffee, switching to tea or drinking your coffee later in the day can help you change your routine.
- Finding it hard to make the change? It may help to see how much money it costs to smoke with the Healthy Canadians Cost Calculator.
- Many people use cigarettes to relieve their stress. But the costs and risks of cigarettes can actually increase the stress in your life. Research suggests that instead of a cigarette, it can be helpful to practice deep breathing. Deep breathing is quick, free and easy to learn:
- For 3 seconds, slowly take a deep breath in through your nose. As you inhale, let your abdomen expand.
- Hold the breath for 3 seconds.
- For 6 seconds, slowly exhale through your mouth. Feel your abdomen moving in.
- Repeat 3 to 5 times.
Deep breathing can not only help you relax, but it can also help reduce cigarette cravings and give you energy because it increases oxygen and blood flow to the brain. Try it the next time you feel like having a cigarette.
For some more ideas, tips and resources, see the following:
- Speak to a Quit Coach at Health811 for quit smoking support by calling 811, TTY 1-866-797-0007.
- Visit Smokers’ Helpline to join an online chat forum with people planning to quit, people who have quit, Quit Coaches and to see more resources. You can also text iQuit to the number 123456 (in Ontario) for quit support.
- Visit the Ontario Ministry of Health’s Quit Smoking website.
- Visit Health Canada’s On the Road to Quitting program.
- Visit QuitMap.ca to find a quit smoking counsellor or group in your community.
- Visit Make Your Home and Car Smoke-Free.
- Visit the Indigenous Tobacco Program website to find resources for First Nations, Inuit, Métis and urban Indigenous peoples.
Tips if you do not feel ready to try
- Write down how you would feel if you could quit. For example, would you feel better about yourself and more in control of your life? Would you be a better role model for your children or loved ones? Would it give you a better chance of being healthy in retirement? Think about what your life would be like if you could quit.
- Keep track of your smoking. Sometimes just seeing how much you are smoking – and being more aware of when you are reaching for a cigarette – can help you cut back. Keep a count of every cigarette you smoke on your cell phone, a piece of paper or your computer.
- Make an appointment with your doctor or nurse practitioner, or speak with your pharmacist about smoking cessation aids and programs that might make it easier for you to quit. Learn about all your options so you can think about what you might do in the future.
- Remember that everyone can change. Just because you are a person who smokes today does not mean you have to be one tomorrow. Millions of people in Canada – including people who smoked for many years – have quit. Every time you try to quit, you are moving closer to the goal of being permanently smoke-free.
- Knowing how much smoking is costing you may help motivate you to quit. Find out at the Healthy Canadians Cost Calculator.
- When you feel ready to start making changes, check out some of these great resources:
- Speak to a Quit Coach at Health811 for quit smoking support by calling 811, TTY 1-866-797-0007.
- Visit Smokers’ Helpline to join an online chat forum with people planning to quit, people who have quit, Quit Coaches and to see more resources. You can also text iQuit to the number 123456 (in Ontario) for quit support.
- Visit the Ontario Ministry of Health’s Quit Smoking website.
- Visit Health Canada’s On the Road to Quitting program.
- Visit QuitMap.ca to find a quit smoking counsellor or group in your community.
- Visit Make Your Home and Car Smoke-Free.
- Visit the Indigenous Tobacco Program website to see resources for First Nations, Inuit, Métis and urban Indigenous peoples.
Tips for avoiding second-hand smoke
- Think of when and where you are exposed to second-hand smoke. Is it at home, in the car or in public places? Once you have identified where and when this is happening, try to think of ways you can change the situation. Could you ban smoking from your home or car?
- Asking friends and family not to smoke around you can be hard. But remember that you are doing this to protect your health. Explain how their smoking can affect your health.
- Focus on your long-term goals, including a long and healthy life with the people you love.
- More resources to help you include:
- How to be a positive influence and help someone quit smoking.
- How to Make Your Home and Car Smoke-Free.
- Visit the Indigenous Tobacco Program website to see resources for First Nations, Inuit, Métis and urban Indigenous peoples.
