One in five kidney cancers diagnosed at latest stage, report finds

A primary care kidney cancer test should be developed to aid in earlier detection as one in five patients with the disease are being diagnosed at stage 4, according to new data.

Kidney Cancer UK’s 12th annual patient survey, published on 2 February shows that 20% of patients in the UK are being diagnosed at the most advanced stage of the disease.

The charity highlighted that late detection of the disease is resulting in harsher treatments, reduced quality of life, and significantly higher mortality rates.

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It states that five-year survival for those diagnosed at stage 4 is only 10-15% – a significant decrease compared with 74-75% for those diagnosed at stage 3.

Malcolm Packer, chief executive officer at Kidney Cancer UK, said: ‘These findings highlight a stark and urgent reality: there are too many people being diagnosed with kidney cancer at stage 3 and 4. This isn’t just a clinical issue – it’s a human one, with devastating consequences for treatment options, quality of life, and survival.’

To tackle the growing issue of late diagnosis, the charity is calling for the development of a primary care test to increase earlier detection; greater GP support, awareness, and training; and improved participation in clinical trials.

Kidney cancer is now the sixth most common cancer in the UK, with around 13,800 new cases diagnosed each year. Furthermore, around 4,700 people die from the disease annually, reflecting a growing mortality rate that has increased by 73% since the 1970s.

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Late detection of the disease is often attributed to notoriously vague or absent symptoms, leaving patients dismissed or misdiagnosed until the disease has advanced.

Kidney Cancer UK’s 11th annual report found that more than three in five kidney cancer diagnoses in the UK are incidental and found because of unrelated medical interventions.

Professor Grant Stewart, professor of surgical oncology at the University of Cambridge and consultant urologist at Addenbrooke’s Hospital at Cambridge, said: ‘The report also draws attention to the continued underuse of biopsy, which is currently offered to fewer than one third of patients, a decline of 5% compared with the previous year.’

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‘Biopsy plays a crucial role in ensuring accurate diagnosis and in preventing unnecessary surgical intervention.’

Kidney Cancer UK are also recommending widespread implementation of the first NICE guidelines for kidney cancer, which are due to be published in Spring 2026.