Just Diagnosed with Renal Cell (Kidney) Cancer

Found a kidney lesion on your scan? Learn what it means, the difference between cysts and solid masses, and the next steps for diagnosis.

Understand how kidney cancer is staged using the TNM system. Learn why your stage is just the starting line for effective treatment and clinical trial options.

Discover why an incidental renal mass is a silver lining. Learn about precision medicine, genomic profiling, and management options for early-stage kidney cancer.

Most people diagnosed with renal cell (kidney) cancer understandably focus entirely on getting through treatment. Data reveals there’s something that gets overlooked: heart disease can quietly become the bigger threat. Research from the Massey Cancer Center found that younger kidney cancer survivors face significant cardiovascular risk, challenging the assumption that age is the deciding factor. […]

If you’ve recently received a kidney cancer diagnosis, you likely have access through your patient portal to your personalized pathology report. A pathology report is a detailed document written by a pathologist—an expert who examines tissue under a microscope. The report you receive after a kidney cancer diagnosis will explain exactly what the pathologist found […]

When you learn that you have a “renal mass” (a growth in the kidney), your oncologist will also share with you its size, typically measured in centimeters. But does size really matter? Does a larger mass mean a more advanced cancer? And, does renal mass size influence whether the cancer has spread? Furthermore, how exactly […]

Advances in kidney cancer treatment are quickly evolving. In this Q&A, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute’s Dr. Toni Choueiri shares insights into the latest therapies from cellular therapies to cutting-edge bispecific drugs and personalized cancer vaccines. If you’re looking to understand the future of kidney cancer care, this Q&A highlights the research and treatments making the biggest […]

Biomarker testing in renal cell (kidney) cancer is transforming how doctors diagnose and treat the disease. By identifying the specific genetic and molecular changes driving a person’s cancer, biomarker testing helps create a more personalized treatment plan. Whether it’s guiding targeted therapy, immunotherapy, or eligibility for clinical trials, understanding your tumor’s biomarkers can play a […]

Not all kidney cancer sources are accurate, and some even highlight outdated survival statistics that don’t reflect advances in treatment. We asked Dana-Farber Cancer Institute’s Dr. Toni Choueiri, a leading kidney cancer specialist, to answer common questions from patients and families, debunk myths, explain the main types of kidney cancer, and provide practical guidance. These […]

Staging is an important step after any cancer diagnosis. It provides your care team with the information they need to create a treatment plan that’s personalized to you. With renal cell (kidney) cancer, your doctor may use imaging tests like CT scans, MRIs, or ultrasounds to look at the kidney and surrounding areas. Sometimes a […]

About 1 in 20 cancers diagnosed in the United States are kidney cancers, with renal cell cancer being the most common type of kidney cancer. If you’ve been diagnosed with renal cell (kidney) cancer, you may be feeling a mix of emotions including fear, confusion, and uncertainty. One of the most empowering steps you can […]