Patient Stories

Laura tells KCCure about her diagnosis with stage 4 papillary kidney cancer and how she now has No Evidence of Disease (NED) from the treatment Cabozantinib. This is her story.

My Journey with Kidney cancer started back in 2002.  I had a kidney stone in my right kidney but during the process of treating the kidney stone - they found a tumor in my left kidney which resulted in a radical nephrectomy.  After a few years of scans, my doctors told me that I was clear and didn’t need to be followed anymore.

KCCure President Dena Battle shares her thoughts on caregiving and grief - and why even after a tough kidney cancer battle, she's still grateful for the past and hopeful for the future.

Here's to the kidney cancer caregivers who fight tirelessly for their loved ones battling kidney cancer.  The men and women who manage medication, drive to appointments, fax medical records and know more about their loved-ones illness than most doctors.  They monitor side effects better than a trial nurse.  And when necessary, they shave heads.  Thank you caregivers.  Thank you Elise, caregiver to Mark.

My advice to anyone newly diagnosed, but especially with Stage IV, is to find an RCC specialist to lead your medical team. Become your own strongest advocate. Look deep inside to find your untapped strength.

Holly Johnson, is a stage 4 kidney cancer patient, but she doesn't let herself be defined by her diagnosis. Thank you for lending your voice

I do see the pearl of wisdom even if it’s in an oyster cracker in a styrofoam cup. Today was my first and last scan for the year. A first because I’m on a different kind of treatment now which is not chemotherapy based, but immune therapy based. First scan on a new drug always has my thoughts in open waters and sinking. Oysters are heavy you know. And last, because I have no more scans for the rest of the year! If you knew how often I am scanned, (think claustrophobic tendencies AND being completely still for sometimes an hour and a half at a pop) you would also be rejoicing. Hard to swallow without hot sauce for sure and since I don’t eat oysters, the seasoned cracker kind will do just fine. I often wonder how my body can ingest all these toxins for almost 11 years living with kidney canc...

When cancer is a part of your life, you never really get a break from it.  The nagging fears and concerns lurk in the crevices of our minds.  Regardless of your situation – whether you’re stage 1 or stage 4 – the fear of recurrence, concerns about whether a treatment is working, wondering about side effects – it’s just a part of life with cancer.

Holidays can be difficult for kidney cancer patients and caregivers, but there is a path to peace.

Kidney cancer can be just like scaling mountains.