Disease Information

The most common type of cancer arising in the kidney is renal cell carcinoma (aka hypernephroma or Grawitz tumor), making up more than 9 out of 10 renal cancers in adults. Other types include transitional cell carcinomas of the renal pelvis, which behave like bladder cancers. Renal sarcoma is another rare tumor of the kidney. The strongest risk factor for renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is smoking and not just cigarette smokers but also pipe, and cigar smokers are at higher risk. Obesity (especially in women) is another major risk factor.   (SOURCE: National Institutes of Health)