Brad Arnold, the lead singer of 3 Doors Down, was diagnosed with stage 4 clear cell renal cell carcinoma , which is a serious form of kidney cancer that started in his kidney and metastasized (spread) to his lung.

What cancer did Brad Arnold have?

  • Brad Arnold publicly shared that he was diagnosed with clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) , the most common type of kidney cancer in adults.
  • His doctors classified it as stage 4 , meaning the cancer had already spread beyond the kidney, including to at least one of his lungs.

A quick timeline

  • In May 2025, Arnold posted a video and messages on social media explaining that he had been feeling unwell, went to the hospital, and learned he had stage 4 clear cell renal carcinoma that had metastasized into his lung.
  • Following the diagnosis, 3 Doors Down canceled their planned tour so he could focus on treatment.

About clear cell renal cell carcinoma

  • Clear cell renal cell carcinoma is the most common and one of the more aggressive types of kidney cancer, accounting for around 80% of adult kidney cancer cases.
  • At stage 4, medical sources often cite a relatively low 5‑year survival rate (around 10% for metastatic cases), underscoring how serious Arnold’s diagnosis was.

Forum and “latest news” angle

  • After his announcement, fans discussed his cancer diagnosis widely on forums and Reddit threads, reacting with shock, sympathy, and sometimes debating the tone of jokes or comments about his illness.
  • News outlets and health sites used his story to highlight kidney cancer symptoms (such as blood in the urine, flank pain, or a mass near the kidney) and to increase awareness around early detection.

TL;DR

Brad Arnold had stage 4 clear cell renal cell carcinoma , a metastatic kidney cancer that had spread to his lung, leading him and 3 Doors Down to cancel touring and focus on his treatment.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.