Last Updated on June 14, 2025 by Analgesia team
RCC Medical Abbreviation
RCC stands for renal cell carcinoma, which is a type of kidney cancer. It’s the most common type of kidney cancer in adults.
What are the symptoms of RCC?
Symptoms of renal cell carcinoma, also known as kidney cancer, include:
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- Blood in urine: Also known as hematuria, this is the most common symptom. Blood in the urine can be red, dark, rusty, or brown.
- Pain: Pain in the side or lower back that doesn’t go away, or pain between the ribs and waist.
- Lump: A lump in the abdomen, back, under the ribs, or in the neck.
- Swelling: Swelling in the legs or ankles.
- Weight loss: Unintentional weight loss, especially if accompanied by fatigue and fever.
- Fatigue: Feeling tired or having no energy.
- Fever: A high temperature that doesn’t go away, especially if it’s not caused by a cold or flu.
- Sweating: Sweating a lot, including at night.
- Loss of appetite: Loss of appetite or not wanting to eat.
- Anemia: Low red blood cell count.
- Frequent urination: Urinating more frequently, especially at night.
- Change in urine color: Urine that is dark, rusty, or brown.
In the early stages, kidney cancer often doesn’t cause any symptoms. It’s often diagnosed when testing for something else
How is RCC diagnosed?
- Full blood tests that examine the kidneys and abdomen
- Renal Cell Carcinoma (RCC) is typically diagnosed through imaging tests like a CT scan or MRI, which are used to visualize the kidneys and identify suspicious masses; a biopsy may be performed in certain cases to confirm the diagnosis by examining a tissue sample taken from the mass, although often the diagnosis can be made based on the imaging alone
How is RCC treated?
- Treatment options depend on the stage of the disease.
- Treatment can help many people fight the cancer.
What are the risk factors for RCC?
- Smoking
- Misuse of certain pain medicines
- Occupational exposures to asbestos, dust, chemicals, fumes, metals, mineral oils, organic solvents, paints, and rubber
What is the survival rate of renal cell carcinoma?
The overall 5-year survival rate for renal cell carcinoma (kidney cancer) is around 75%, with significantly higher survival rates for early-stage (localized) cancers, reaching nearly 93%, while advanced-stage (distant) cancers have much lower survival rates, around 15% or less.
Key points about renal cell carcinoma survival rates:
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Stage matters most:
The stage at which the cancer is diagnosed is the biggest factor affecting survival rates, with significantly better outcomes for localized cancers compared to metastatic cancers.
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Early detection is key:Early diagnosis allows for treatment when the cancer is still confined to the kidney, leading to a much higher chance of survival.
What are the subtypes of RCC? Clear cell, Papillary, Chromophobe, Collecting duct, and Unclassified.