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By D’Ann George, PhD, Medical Writer A nephrectomy is surgery to remove all or part of a kidney, but when someone has surgery to remove a kidney tumor that has metastasized (spread) to other areas, the name for the procedure is called a cytoreductive nephrectomy. In years past, this procedure provided the best option to prolong survival for people with…

The 2023 International Kidney Cancer Symposium: Europe, taking place in Edinburgh, Scotland on April 21-22, will feature three special lectures by prominent experts in kidney cancer. Register now. Dr. Robert Jones Dr. Robert Jones is a Professor of Clinical Cancer Research at the University of Glasgow in Scotland. His 2023 IKCS: Europe keynote lecture will cover "Scotland and Kidney Cancer".…

By D’Ann George, PhD, Medical Writer While Chris Jonas grappled with the discovery of new tumors from her kidney cancer, Hurricane Florence was flinging its fury at her hometown of Morehead City near the coast of North Carolina. Chris Jonas with her granddaughter and Yorkshire terrier. “I actually felt a tumor in my neck. I felt it growing. I was…

Salvatore La Rosa with Gretchen E. Vaughan, CEO, at the KCA office in Houston, Texas. The Kidney Cancer Association welcomes Salvatore La Rosa, PhD, a non-profit executive with extensive experience in advancing research programs and treatment pipelines for rare diseases, as its first Chief Scientific Officer (CSO). La Rosa will oversee the KCA’s research initiatives, patient services, and all programs…

This is a guest post by Hector Perez, a KCA Ambassador. It’s been 12 years since I was diagnosed with renal cell carcinoma (RCC). There are still several nodules; however, they are under control and to this day I continue to lead a normal life and work. Right now, I am on Cabometyx 20 mg, but it took a long…

This is a guest post by Frances Mora, 39. Frances lives in Miami. We are quickly approaching the one-year mark, when I received the shock of a lifetime. I had just given birth to my son and I was trying to get back on track with my fitness journey. After a friend told me about wood therapy and how it…

The Kidney Cancer Association (KCA) launched an Affiliate Program to bring together like-minded organizations and advocate in partnership for medical advances that improve the lives of people with kidney cancer.   The inaugural group of KCA affiliates are the Chris “CJ” Johnson Foundation, the Chromophobe and Oncocytic Tumor Alliance, and Joey’s Wings Foundation, each of which focus on a rare…

This is a guest post by Rachel O'Leary. Rachel O'Leary frosts bundt cakes for her Kidney Cancer Awareness Month fundraiser. In March of 2022 I was going to see my orthopedist for chronic lower back pain that I had been having on my right side. This is pain I had been experiencing for about six months at this point, but…

By D’Ann George, PhD, Medical Writer We rounded up a few research highlights from the 2023 ASCO Genitourinary Cancers Symposium (ASCO GU), held recently in San Francisco, California. Kidney cancer guidelines updates Dr. Shuchi Gulati of the University of California Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center, summarized major recent changes in kidney cancer care guidelines, primarily from the 2023 National Comprehensive Cancer…

Dr. Brian Shuch A new way to scan and image renal masses has the potential to accurately determine if a renal mass is cancerous or benign before a patient needs to have surgery. The phase 3 ZIRCON trial successfully demonstrated both sensitivity and specificity – the two primary endpoints – for clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) using the zirconium-tagged…