Cancer is a disease caused by abnormal cell growth that can spread throughout the body. There are two types of tumors - benign tumors which are not cancerous, and malignant tumors which are cancerous. Kidney cancer begins in the kidneys and can be caused by risk factors like smoking, obesity, and workplace chemicals. Common types of kidney cancer in adults include renal cell carcinoma and other rare types. Many kidney cancers are found during tests for other conditions, and imaging tests are increasingly used to detect cancers earlier.