The overall incidence of kidney cancer observed at Rice Memorial Hospital has increased over the past 15 years (Figure 1). Only four cases of kidney cancer were treated at Rice in 1986. Last year, 18 patients were treated for kidney cancer. Over the past five years the number of patients treated for kidney cancer has ranged between 12 and 18 .

The stage at presentation (Figure 2) is slightly different from the National Cancer Data Base. Approximately 55 percent of the patients in the National Cancer Data Base were in Stages 1 and 2. In comparison, 40 percent of the patients from Rice over the past five years were in either Stage 1 or 2 category. During the same interval approximately 14 percent of the patients in the National Cancer Data Base were Stage 3, while Rice had 23 percent in the Stage 3 category. In the Stage 4 category Rice had 21 percent and the National Cancer Data Base was 20 percent. Over the past five years, the patients at Rice have presented at a higher stage.

Not only do the patients at Rice tend to present at a higher stage, but also at a later age (Figure 3). Two percent of the patients at Rice presented with kidney cancer between the ages of 30-39. In comparison, the National Cancer Data Base had 2.7 percent of the total patients in that age group. Between the ages of 40-49, the percentage of patients at Rice was 4.9 percent and the National Cancer Data Base percentage was more than double at 10 percent. In the 50-59 age group the percentage was fairly similar with 18 percent of the Rice patients in this group compared with 20.7 percent in the National Cancer Data Base. In the 60-70 and 70-80 age groups there was a higher percentage noted at Rice compared to the National Cancer Data Base. Overall, in these two groups, Rice had 63 percent of the patients in either age group as compared to 51percent in the National Cancer Data Base.

The treatment (Figure 4) provided at Rice closely mirrors the data from the National Cancer Data Base. Typically kidney, both renal cell and transitional cell cancer, is managed most often with surgery. Overall, 73 percent of the kidney cancer patients at Rice underwent surgery compared to 71 percent of the kidney cancer patients in the National Cancer Data Base. In both groups only 4 percent of the patients received radiation therapy only. Five percent of patients in both groups received a combination of surgery and radiation. In both groups 2 percent of the patients received surgery and chemotherapy.

In summary, Rice Memorial Hospital has noted an increase in the number of patients with kidney cancer over the past 15 years. In comparison to the National Cancer Data Base, Rice patients present at an older age and a higher stage.

Kidney/Renal Pelvis 5-Year Relative Survival rates by Stage (Figure 5).

Number of Kidney/Renal Pelvis Cancer
Per Year
Total = 214

(Figure 1)

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Kidney/Renal Pelvis Cancer
Stage at Diagnosis

NCDB		RMH
*Source: 2000 National Cancer Data Base (NCDB), Commission on Cancer, American College of Surgeons, Benchmark Reports, v1.1 - Compared to RMH 1992 - 1999.

(Figure 2)

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NCDB	RMH
*Source: 2000 National Cancer Data Base (NCDB), Commission on Cancer, American College of Surgeons, Benchmark Reports, v1.1 - Compared to RMH 1992 - 1999.

(Figure 3)

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Treatment of Kidney/Renal Pelvis Cancer

NCDB		RMH
*Source: 2000 National Cancer Data Base (NCDB), Commission on Cancer, American College of Surgeons, Benchmark Reports, v1.1 - Compared to RMH 1992 - 1999.

(Figure 4)

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(Figure 5)

*SEER: The Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results Program established by the National Cancer Institute. This program has selected certain geographic areas submitting data which represent the country as a whole.

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