What should people know about cancer of the kidney and renal pelvis?
The kidneys are two reddish-brown organs, shaped like beans, located above the waist on each side of the spine. The renal pelvis is the inner, curved part of the kidney where urine collects. The kidneys filter blood and produce urine to remove wastes from the body. Urine collects in the renal pelvis and then moves down the ureters to the bladder, where it is stored. The kidneys also assist in controlling blood pressure and in regulating red blood cell production. Each year in New York State about 1,800 men and 1,100 women are diagnosed with cancer of the kidney and renal pelvis. About 400 men and 300 women die from this disease each year in New York State.
