Kidney cancer survival rates depend on the stage at which the cancer is diagnosed, tumor size, age, and general health. Survival rates are highest when the cancer is localized within the kidney, and decrease as it spreads. Tumor size also plays a role, with smaller tumors having higher survival rates. Health problems can negatively affect survival rates by interfering with treatment.
Kidney cancer survival rates are usually based on a five-year calculation, which is the percentage of people who survive for five years or more after diagnosis. Survival rates vary greatly from person to person and are influenced by several factors. In general, one of the biggest factors in determining kidney cancer survival rates is the stage at which the cancer is diagnosed. Studies also indicate that tumor size could also play a role in survival rates. Finally, age and general health can also affect a person’s chances of survival.
Survival rates for kidney cancer are highest when the diagnosis is made during the early stage, when the cancer is still very localized within the kidney. During that stage, kidney cancer survival rates can range from 75 to 90 percent. When the diagnosis is made after the cancer has entered stage two, where it has spread but is still contained in the kidney, survival rates drop to 65-75%. Survival rates drop to 40-70 percent during the third stage, when the cancer has spread to the regional area and lymph nodes. If the cancer has reached stage four and has metastasized to other parts of the body, survival rates drop significantly, to less than 20 percent.
Some studies have indicated that the size of the cancerous tumor could also influence kidney cancer survival rates. For example, if the tumor found is smaller than 1.6 inches (4 cm), the survival rate can be as high as 90%. As size increases, however, survival rates decrease proportionately. This is mainly because the smaller the tumor, the more likely it is to respond to medication or be completely eradicated by surgery.
Health problems, whether or not they are related to cancer, can negatively affect kidney cancer survival rates due to the possibility of interfering with a patient’s ability to tolerate necessary treatment. For example, if a person has a heart condition or a bleeding disorder, he or she may not be able to have surgery recommended for cancer. Similarly, if a person has high blood pressure or diabetes, they may be unable to take certain medications prescribed for kidney cancer. The same goes for a person’s age. If a patient is elderly at the time of diagnosis, their survival rate may be below average due to an inability to tolerate or respond favorably to available treatment options.
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