KCA

Kidney Cancer Unfiltered season 3 was filled with raw emotions, compelling stories, and powerful insights by both experts and those impacted by kidney cancer. Hosted by Annamaria Scaccia, this season featured remarkable guests who shared their personal experiences, shedding light on topics often overlooked in cancer conversations. I have listened to quite a few of these podcasts and find them…

Dr. Toni Choueiri and Dr. Rizwan Romee received a KCA research award in 2021 for their project “Adoptive cytokine-induced memory-like natural killer cell therapy alone or in combination with avelumab for immunotherapy-refractory advanced renal cell carcinoma.” This technique could represent a new type of immunotherapy treatment Choueiri, Romee, and Dr. Vincent Xu, shared an update on their research, which has…

Update 3/20/25: The recently-enacted fiscal year 2025 Continuing Resolution cuts funding for CDMRP by $859 million, from $1.509 billion to $650 million – a 57 percent cut from FY24 levels. Cuts of this magnitude will significantly disrupt research into new therapeutics for diseases and disorders that impact the men and women in the Armed Services, as well as veterans, military…

The City of Austin, Texas proclaimed March 1, the first day of Kidney Cancer Awareness Month, to be "Kidney Cancer Awareness Day" from 2025 onward.  John Ferrell, Annamaria Scaccia, and Katie Coleman at Austin City Hall. KCA Ambassador and patient advocate Annamaria Scaccia requested the proclamation.  “I’m grateful that Austin has recognized March 1 —  the start of Kidney Cancer Awareness…

This is a guest post by Annamaria Scaccia, a kidney and thyroid cancer survivor, patient advocate, and member of the KCA's Patient & Caregiver Advisory Council. As a cancer survivor, I sometimes feel like an imposter. Even years after my diagnosis, I catch myself questioning if my experiences really “qualify” me to be in certain spaces. But in mid-January, something…

In this deeply personal final episode of season 2 of Kidney Cancer Unfiltered, host Annamaria Scaccia sat down with her partner Sam and son Kelly to reflect on their shared journey through her two cancer diagnoses: chromophobe renal cell carcinoma in 2020 and papillary thyroid carcinoma in 2023. Around the kitchen table, they have an open and emotional conversation about…

In season 2, episode 9 of Kidney Cancer Unfiltered, host Annamaria Scaccia talked with Katie Coleman, a stage 4 kidney cancer survivor, and Dr. Pavlos Msaouel, a physician-scientist at MD Anderson Cancer Center. Together, they shared insights into navigating a rare cancer diagnosis, the challenges of advocating for oneself in the medical system, and the importance of research for better…

In season 2, episode 8 of Kidney Cancer Unfiltered, host Annamaria Scaccia sat down with Heather Williams, who was diagnosed with a rare form of kidney cancer just days before learning she was pregnant. Heather shared her incredible journey of navigating aggressive treatment for renal medullary carcinoma (RMC) while protecting her unborn child. https://kidneycancerst.wpengine.com/stories/heather-williams/ With unwavering support from her husband,…

In season 2, episode 7 of Kidney Cancer Unfiltered, host Annamaria Scaccia connected with Dr. Pedro Barata, a genitourinary oncologist, about how geography and socioeconomic factors impact access to cancer care. Dr. Barata highlighted the unique challenges faced by patients in rural areas, such as long travel times, limited access to oncologists, and difficulties enrolling in clinical trials. He discussed…

In season 2, episode 6 of Kidney Cancer Unfiltered, host Annamaria Scaccia spoke with Raul Chavez, an 18-year kidney cancer survivor. Diagnosed at 23 with a rare, unclassifiable form of renal cell carcinoma, Raul shared the emotional toll of living scan-to-scan, managing PTSD, and navigating life with one kidney. Raul reflected on the challenges of conflicting medical advice, the pressure…