The
| Stage | Survival rate |
| Localised or confined to the original site of the cancer | 93% |
| Regional or spread to nearby tissues and organs, but not spread to distant parts of the body | 75% |
| Distant or spread to further parts of the body, such as the lungs, bones, or brain | 18% |
Stage 4 cancer is cancer that has spread to distant parts of the body, including the lungs. The 5-year relative survival rate refers to people still alive after 5 years of diagnosis.
This means for a person with stage 4 or distant kidney cancer that has spread to the lungs, their chance of surviving for 5 years after their diagnosis is around 18% compared to those without the disease.
These factors, however, vary on a case-by-case basis. Factors that influence a person’s life expectancy
- overall health and fitness
- age
- treatment options
- how a person responds to treatment
- types of kidney cancer
Sources
- Advanced cancer. (2022). https://www.macmillan.org.uk/cancer-information-and-support/advanced-cancer
- Survival rates for kidney cancer. (2025).
https://www.cancer.org/cancer/types/kidney-cancer/detection-diagnosis-staging/survival-rates.html - Understanding cancer prognosis. (2024).
https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/diagnosis-staging/prognosis