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2021 was a bumper year for kidney cancer developments, including several new treatment approvals by the FDA and a much better understanding of how kidney cancer is impacted by COVID-19 infections and vaccines. "All are very important topics that are affecting patients as we speak," said Nancy Moldawer, RN, of Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, Ca, and a member…

This is a guest post by Bonnie Davidoff, a kidney cancer patient, aunt to the most amazing nieces and nephews, and arts enthusiast based in Olympia, Washington. Bonnie Davidoff with her family on a recent visit to Epcot Center in Florida. It was Davidoff's first visit with her family in three years because of health issues and the Covid-19 pandemic.…

This is a guest post by Joel Stern, who was diagnosed with stage IV renal cell carcinoma in 2020. This is the second in a two-part series, in which Joel discusses what he learned through his kidney cancer journey. Read part one: I have stage IV renal cell carcinoma and I’m surprisingly content After a stage IV clear cell renal…

This is a guest post by Joel Stern, who was diagnosed with stage 4 renal cell carcinoma in 2020. This is the first in a two-part series in which Joel discusses how to take a dire diagnosis and make the best of it. I Have Stage IV Cancer: The News No One Wants to Hear I am addicted to playing…

The Kidney Cancer Association's Medical Director, Sallie McAdoo, MS, CGC, was featured on the Cancer Interviews podcast to discuss the basics of kidney cancer and all the ways the KCA supports patients and caregivers and helps advance research. Watch the interview: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5GjkxMxauqI The podcast host, Bruce Morton, is himself a survivor of prostate cancer. Cancer Interviews is a humanitarian project…

This is a guest post by Jason Hinojosa, a marketing professional, new father, and kidney cancer patient based in Seattle, Washington. He is also a KCA Ambassador. It was your typical Super Bowl Sunday, people running around town in their team colors buying last-second snacks for their parties. But this particular Sunday in 2011 turned out to be a day…

Dr. Nirmish Singla received a 2021 Young Investigator Award for his project "Tumor evolution of brain-specific tropism in metastatic renal cell carcinoma." Singla is based at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland. We spoke with Singla about his work and what it could mean for people with kidney cancer. https://www.kidneycancer.org/the-kidney-cancer-association-awards-1-375-million-to-seven-teams-of-researchers/ Briefly describe your project. How did you develop this idea?…

Dr. Eric Kauffman received a 2021 Young Investigator Award for his project "Biology of spontaneously regressing renal cell carcinoma primary tumors." Kauffman is based at the Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center in Buffalo, New York. We spoke with Kauffman about his work and what it could mean for people with kidney cancer. https://www.kidneycancer.org/the-kidney-cancer-association-awards-1-375-million-to-seven-teams-of-researchers/ How frequent is frequent when you say…

Dr. Elshad Hasanov received a 2021 Young Investigator Award for his project "Investigating genomic drivers of immune checkpoint inhibitors resistance in RCC brain metastasis: implications for immunotherapy." Hasanov is based at the MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas. We spoke with Hasanov about his work and what it could mean for people with kidney cancer. https://www.kidneycancer.org/the-kidney-cancer-association-awards-1-375-million-to-seven-teams-of-researchers/ Briefly describe your…

Dr. Yuexin Xu received a 2021 Young Investigator Award for her project "Transcriptomic single-cell and spatial mapping of immune cell infiltration and tumor-associated endothelial cell heterogeneity in renal cell carcinoma." Xu is based at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle, Washington. We spoke with Xu about her work and what it could mean for people with kidney cancer.…