What is kidney cancer?
Kidney cancer starts in the cells of the kidney. The two kidneys are found on either side of the backbone, deep inside the upper part of the abdomen, protected by the lower ribs. Attached to the top of each kidney is an adrenal gland. The kidneys make urine by filtering water and waste material from the blood. Urine passes from each kidney to the bladder through tubes called the ureters. When the bladder is full, the urine passes out of the body through a tube called the urethra.
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There are several types of kidney cancer. This information is about renal cell carcinoma, which is the most common type. For information about other kidney cancers (such as transitional cell cancer and Wilms’ tumour), e-mail us or contact our Cancer Information Service at 1 888 939-3333. |
Last modified on:
10 December 2009
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