Cancers at a glance

Click the cancer types below to view the latest key facts on trends in new cases, deaths and survival in NSW.

Scroll for more...

In depth cancer reports

For detailed data and analysis, please see the latest cancer reports published by the Cancer Institute

Cancer in NSW: Incidence and Mortality 2008

Other cancer reports

Online cancer statistics

Run detailed and customised reports on specific cancers, with comparisons on age, genders and geography:

Online statistics module

Kidney cancer

Share this page Email this page to a friend Share this page via Twitter Share this page via Facebook Share this page via LinkedIn

Kidney cancer accounts for 2.7 per cent of all new cancers in NSW and 2.3 per cent of cancer deaths.

At a glance

2008 statistics Men Women All People
Cases Rate Trend Cases Rate Trend Cases Rate
New cases 627 17.5 icon-trend-static.png 375 9.4 icon-trend-static.png 1,002 13.2
Deaths 186 5.3 icon-trend-static.png
116 2.7 positive trend downwards 32.5 302 3.9
Relative survival
(5 year)		 66% unchanged
 65% icon-trend-static.png 4% -

icon-trend-static.png No statistically significant change.

  • Kidney cancer is the tenth most common cancer and the 16th most common cause of cancer deaths in NSW.
  • One in 45 males and one in 81  females will develop kidney cancer by the age of 85.
  • It is expected that more than 9,100 people will be diagnosed with and more than 1,700 deaths will be caused by urogenital cancer, including kidney cancer in NSW in 2011.

Cases refers to the number of people with the disease; Rate means cases per 100,000 people (age standardised); Trend means the change in the rate over 10 years.

Historical trends

New cases

Age-standardised incidence, NSW

kidney-incidence.png

Deaths

Age-standardised mortality, NSW

kidney-mortality.png

 

Risk factors

  • Kidney cancer is strongly associated with tobacco smoking.
  • Overweight and obesity.
  • Long-term exposure to high levels of an industrial solvent (trichlorethylene).
  • Exposure to cadmium (used in batteries) increases the risk, particularly in men who smoke.
  • People with a family history of kidney cancer - particularly a brother or sister - are at higher risk.

 

Prevention

Avoidance of tobacco consumption is a protective factor against kidney cancer. Maintaining a healthy weight may also reduce the risk.

Detection and screening

There is no screening test for kidney cancer.

Symptoms may include blood in the urine, pain, a lump, weight loss or fever. However, these are also symptoms of more common illnesses.

A range of tests can be performed to diagnose kidney cancer, including blood and urine tests, an intravenous pyelogram (injection of dye), CT scan, ultrasound, MRI and biopsy.

Research

More than $12.9 million was spent on urogenital cancer research, including kidney cancer, in NSW between 2007 and 2009.

Data sources:

  1. Cancer In NSW, Incidence and Mortality Report 2008. Sydney: Cancer Institute NSW, August 2010.
  2. Cancer Research in NSW 2007-2009. Sydney: Cancer Institute NSW. March 2011.
Top of page