Kidney transplantation is often thought to be the best treatment option for patients with kidney disease. While it may not cure the original disease, it will provide you with a new kidney that can function better than being on dialysis. Most kidney transplant recipients can return to living the life they enjoyed before losing kidney function. Like with any surgery, there are risks associated with kidney transplantation.
About 26 million Americans have chronic kidney disease, according to the National Kidney Foundation (NKF). For many, a kidney transplant can be the most effective treatment option.
Facts About Transplantation
- The average waiting time for a kidney transplant is three to five years.
- Nearly 80% of those waiting for a kidney transplant in Washington, D.C. are ethnic minorities.
- Minorities wait twice as long for kidney transplants than the majority population.
Source: US Department of Health and Human Services
