Thursday, June 18, marks the 10th annual World Kidney Cancer Day, a day to educate patients, caregivers and health professionals about kidney cancer care, diagnosis and treatment that’s led by the International Kidney Cancer Coalition (IKCC). This year’s theme, “Kidney Cancer and Emotional Wellbeing,” aims to empower people with kidney cancer to seek support during care.

 

Kidney cancer is one of the 10 most common cancers in the United States, accounting for 3% to 5% of all cancer diagnoses, according to the American Cancer Society. In 2026, about 80,450 people will be diagnosed with kidney cancer, and 15,160 people will die of the disease.

 

Smoking, excess body weight, high blood pressure, certain pain medications and exposure to particular chemicals can increase the likelihood of developing renal cell carcinoma (RCC), the most common form of kidney cancer. Some genetic diseases, such as von Hippel-Lindau disease or Cowden syndrome, as well as a diagnosis of advanced kidney disease can also increase one’s risk of developing RCC. What’s more, RCC is twice as common in men as in women, and kidney cancer rates are higher among Black people and American Indian/Alaska Native people.

 

To learn more about symptoms, diagnosis and treatment of the disease, read Cancer Health’s Basics on Kidney Cancer.

 

In observance of World Kidney Cancer Day, IKCC is holding a global symposium on June 18 on emotional well-being during kidney cancer care. The panel consists of psycho-oncologist Cristiane Decat Bergerot, PhD; cancer survivor, patient advocate and counselor Steve Pointon; and genitourinary medical oncology professor Eric Jonasch, MD. IKCC promoted the symposium in a recent Instagram post with the following caption:

 

“In support of #WorldKidneyCancerDay, join the global conversation around kidney cancer and emotional wellbeing.

Register for the Global Patient & Carer Symposium taking place online on June 18 at 2pm CEST, where expert panelists will discuss the emotional impact of living with kidney cancer and the importance of support, connection, and open conversations. Hosted by our partners at the International Kidney Cancer Coalition.

Patients, caregivers, partners, and community members are all invited to attend. Registration is open and free: worldkidneycancerday.org”

 

 

World Kidney Cancer Day programming also includes an emotional well-being check-in quiz for kidney cancer patients.

 

“Kidney cancer doesn’t only affect your physical health, it also impacts emotional wellbeing in ways such as anxiety about scans, changing relationships, isolation and worries about what the future holds,” reads the IKCC Instagram post about the nonprofit’s new survey. “In fact, our 2025 Global Patient Survey revealed 85% of kidney cancer patients experienced emotional wellbeing challenges. Yet far too many never talk about them with family, friends or their medical teams.

 

The Emotional Wellbeing Check-In was designed with mental health professionals and is available for download on the World Kidney Cancer Day marketing tool kit page, which also features downloadable templates, graphics and logos for use on social media in 13 languages.  

To read more about kidney cancer, click #KidneyCancer to find stories such as: