Skip to content
knowrare
HealthSignal
Your condition community

Living with Renal cell carcinoma

An inherited form of kidney cancer with several tumors in both kidneys, usually found in adults.

Understanding Renal cell carcinoma

Hereditary papillary renal cell carcinoma is an inherited kidney cancer in which multiple papillary tumors develop in both kidneys.

It tends to run in families in an autosomal dominant pattern, but not everyone with the gene change develops it. GARD notes it differs from other inherited kidney cancers like von Hippel-Lindau disease. GARD lists onset in adulthood.

Signs & symptoms

GARD doesn't list specific symptoms for this condition yet. The summary describes this feature:

  • Several tumors in both kidneys (papillary renal tumors)

Not everyone has every symptom. GARD's list comes from the Human Phenotype Ontology.

Diagnosis

  1. Talk with your doctor

    Share the symptoms you've noticed, when they started and your family health history. Notes and photos can help.

  2. See a specialist

    Specialists who may be involved include cancer specialists and kidney specialists.

  3. Ask which tests can help

    Your care team will decide which exams and tests can confirm the diagnosis.

  4. Connect with expert centers

    Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation and Kidney Cancer Association may keep lists of experts for this condition.

Care & treatment

Care team
Cancer specialists (oncologists); Kidney specialists (nephrologists)
Expert care
Expert lists: Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation, Kidney Cancer Association
Treatment
GARD doesn't list specific treatments for this condition. Your care team will tailor care to your symptoms.
Research
Clinical trials and observational studies may be options. See the research section below.

General information, not medical advice. Your care team makes the decisions.

Everyday life

Living with a rare condition is easier with support.

  • Connect with Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation and other patient organizations
  • Keep notes on symptoms, changes and questions for appointments
  • Ask about patient registries that help research
  • Look into financial aid and travel resources for care visits
Bring these questions to your next doctor visit
Would genetic testing help find the gene involved?
How often should my kidneys be scanned?
Should my relatives be screened too?

Quick facts

Symptoms usually startAdult

GARD says it follows an autosomal dominant pattern with incomplete penetrance, meaning not everyone with the gene change develops it. It describes roles for genes like MET and VHL in related kidney cancers.

Kidney

Also known as: cancer starting in small tubes in kidneys; hypernephroma; rcc; renal carcinoma; renal cell carcinoma - morphology; renal cell carcinoma (disease)

Patient organizations

Source: NIH GARD · Renal cell carcinomaGARD ID 13215 · GARD page updated September 2026 · Plain-language summary by Know Rare; editorial review pending. General information, not medical advice.

You are more than your diagnosis

Perspectives from people navigating life with Renal cell carcinoma.

Explore the Renal cell carcinoma blog

Explore research for Renal cell carcinoma

Explore actively recruiting Renal cell carcinoma studies with HealthSpark.

HealthSpark

Find actively recruiting studies for Renal cell carcinoma with HealthSpark. Share your city to explore research near you.

  • Recruiting studies from ClinicalTrials.gov
  • Share your city to look for research near you
  • Eligibility is confirmed by the study team

Powered by HealthSpark, our AI chat helper

I can help you find recruiting Renal cell carcinoma studies. Enter a ZIP code, address or city below and I'll look within 50 miles.

Powered by HealthSpark, our AI chat helper · Study information from ClinicalTrials.gov · Eligibility is confirmed by the study team.

Get Signals for Renal cell carcinoma

Stay in the loop with community stories and updates from medical researchers.

HealthStoryfor Renal cell carcinoma

Create a living journal that talks back

HealthStory evolves private journaling with a living AI journal that talks back and asks thoughtful questions, helping you capture your Renal cell carcinoma experiences more deeply and prepare for better conversations with your doctors and care team.

Start your journal

Your journal is private. Sharing your story publicly is a separate choice, made with Share your story above.