Patient Stories

Prologue: This touching account of Irene’s brother Omar and his struggle with kidney cancer took place in the Philippines over six years ago. Shortly after his diagnosis, I was contacted by Irene and another sister Imee who lives in Singapore by e-mail; we remained in touch throughout the remainder of Omar’s life and occasionally thereafter. The family is still repaying loans for his treatment, and will be doing so for at least three more years.  Michael B. Lawing My brother, thirty-one-year-old Omar Sagud, was a husband and a father of three kids between the ages of four and one, who provided for his family by working as a technical support agent of a Business Process Outsourcing company in Manila, Philippines. His days off from work were spent hanging out with his family or playing baske...

Katherine Battle was nine when her dad died of kidney cancer.  In this essay she writes about loss, remembrance and above all things - enduring love.  The past can't be changed - but her voice gives us all hope for the future.

"I realize that there is no avoiding death from this disease, so I plan for its eventuality but I refuse to stop living. Cancer does not define me." James is a stage 4 kidney cancer survivor and this is is his story.

Deb Gottsleben is co-chair of the KCCure Patient Advisory Board and a passionate advocate for better care for patients with newly diagnosed renal tumors.

Today’s Voice of Kidney Cancer is a truly unique story of spontaneous remission. For the skeptics among us it is a story that one would expect to find in the sensationalist headlines of the tabloids in the supermarket checkout lanes. However, the story is real. This is Paul's story.

Today's Voice of Kidney Cancer, Larry Mazella shares how he was diagnosed and how he chose to participate in two different kidney cancer clinical trials. Even though his first treatment option wasn't successful, he was able to enroll in a second clinical trial that is continuing to shrink his cancer.

Today's Voice of Kidney Cancer is Bill Paseman.  In addition to being a survivor of papillary kidney cancer, he also serves on the KCCure Patient Advisory Board. Read Bill's story and how he's trying to use Silicon Valley style events to gather more information about this rare subtype of kidney cancer.

Today's Voice of Kidney Cancer is Kathleen Farrell.  March 28th is her ten-year kidney cancerserversary.  Ten years later, she shares the ups and downs of her journey. I think we all can agree - her spirit is inspiring! 

George Hall is a stage IV kidney cancer survivor and member of the KCCure Patient Advisory Board. He shares his story and how having a committed caregiver and trust in his medical care team have contributed to a hopeful outlook.

Maria Teresa Fahy lost her beloved father, Chema, to kidney cancer. But in that loss, she found strength in others and today is devoted to kidney cancer patient advocacy. In addition to running the Facebook page Team Chema, she also serves on the KCCure Patient Advisory Board.