Blog

The Kidney Cancer Association’s Clinical Advisory Board summarized highlights from the 2026 ASCO Genitourinary Cancers Symposium, held in San Francisco, CA on February 26-28. Emily Wang, PharmD, BCOP, Julia Batten, APRN, MSN, MPH, and Renata Penafiel, MPAS, PA-C reviewed key sessions and provided clinical insights useful for the whole care team. If you learned something new, be sure to share this…

Avanthika Rajendran This is a guest post by Avanthika Rajendran, the Kidney Cancer Association’s Legislative Advocacy Intern. If you've ever thought about speaking up for kidney cancer research funding or patient protections but felt a wave of anxiety about where even to begin, you're in good company. Spoiler: A lot of us feel the same way. Every year, the Kidney…

The Kidney Cancer Association will recognize three outstanding leaders in kidney cancer during the 2026 International Kidney Cancer Symposium: Europe, taking place in Paris, France on April 16-18. Register Now Professor John Haanen Professor John Haanen will receive receives the Nicholas J. Vogelzang Humanitarian Award, named in honor of the KCA’s late co-founder and board member, for outstanding service and…

This is a guest post by Tyler Fletcher, 34, who was diagnosed with grade 1 stage 1 clear cell renal cell carcinoma. Tyler lives in Minnesota, close to his son Darian. Tyler Fletcher with his son, Darian. I was 31, working in a railyard in North Dakota making good money, and really felt like my life had finally come together.…

This is a guest post by Andrew Allers, 62, who was diagnosed with kidney cancer in 2015. Andrew lives in Connecticut with his wife Carole, children Lee, Chauncey, and Harrison, and his three dogs Persie, Jessie, and Becks.  Andrew Allers with his wife Carole, and children Lee, Chauncey, and Harrison. I think it’s fair to say that having cancer has…

This is a sponsored post provided by Exelixis. If you’re reading this, you’re probably an information gatherer determined to learn everything you can about advanced kidney cancer. The old saying “Knowledge is power” is true, but educating yourself can be overwhelming. Of course, your healthcare team should be your first stop for any questions. When you search on your own,…

This is a guest post by Robbie Mckinney, 40, who was diagnosed with Stage 1 clear cell renal cell carcinoma in 2021. Robbie is a writer/creator born and raised in West Virginia and lives in Pennsylvania with his wife, Lyndee. Robbie Mckinney They say 2020 was a bad year for everyone, but my body decided to do it on "Hard…

This is a guest post by Jeremy Kimpton, 49, who was diagnosed with Grade 4 clear cell renal cell carcinoma with sarcomatoid features in 2024. Jeremy Lives in Preston, Idaho. I’d been sick for a while before anyone found the tumor. I knew something was off, but cancer wasn’t even on my mind. I figured it was something small, something that…

This is a guest post by Avanthika Rajendran, the Kidney Cancer Association's Legislative Advocacy Intern. What Is Legislative Advocacy? Legislative advocacy is about educating decision-makers and helping them understand how public policy decisions impact the people and communities we care about. Kidney cancer advocates from New York visiting Capitol Hill in Washington DC to speak with representatives about funding kidney…

This is a guest post by Brooke Reeves, 33, who was diagnosed with stage 1 clear cell renal cell carcinoma in 2025. Brooke’s story is one of fear, faith, and finding hope. At 33 years old, I never imagined I would hear the words, “You have cancer.” I was healthy, active, and busy chasing after my two toddlers — just…