Patient Stories

Patti Burke on Finding Love and Redefining Healing 

Patient Stories

This is a guest post by Patti Burke, an advanced kidney cancer patient based in North Carolina who is living with stage 4 metastatic clear cell kidney cancer for the past 3.5 years. This story is based on her presentation during a patient education event hosted by the Kidney Cancer Association in partnership with Duke Cancer Institute and the University…

Read More

Strong as Hale

Patient Stories

This is a guest post by Jeanetta Hale, 54, from Oregon, who was diagnosed with stage 1 adult Wilms tumor at nearly 47. She is celebrating 35 years of marriage this summer and is a proud mom of four and grandma to four grandchildren.  It was a Friday evening in January 2019 when my doctor’s office called with the results…

Read More

Grand Central Station and How a Tumor Saved My Life

Patient Stories

This is a guest post by Byron Olsen, 58. Byron is a patient attorney and lawyer who was diagnosed with stage 4 clear cell renal cell carcinoma in 2025. He lives in Massachusetts with his wife and has three adult children. Byron with his family. In late September 2025, I was on a train pulling into Grand Central Station to…

Read More

Kidney Cancer Survivor Monica Sullivan Lives Life to the Fullest

Patient Stories

This is a guest post by Monica Sullivan, 49, who was diagnosed with stage 4 chromophobe renal cell carcinoma in 2023. Monica lives in Casa Grande, Arizona and is the current Elite Ms. Arizona Petite. I was diagnosed with stage 4 chromophobe renal cell carcinoma (chRCC) in October 2023 when I was 46 years old. I had no symptoms and…

Read More

Strength on Both Sides of the Stethoscope

Patient Stories

This is a guest post by Michael Kreuter, 40, who was diagnosed with clear cell kidney cancer in 2025. He lives in Pennsylvania where he works as a medical assistant and orthopaedic technician. Michael Kreuter 2025 was a crazy year in my life. It felt like anything that could go wrong wanted to go wrong. On April 1, I was…

Read More

Keith Parker Jr.'s Mother Remembers his Infectious Joy

Patient Stories

This is a guest post by Jahmira McKinley. Jahmira's son Keith Parker Jr. was diagnosed with a rare, aggressive type of kidney cancer on September 29, 2023 at age 23 and passed away on December 9, 2024. Jahmira and her family, who are based in Detroit, Michigan, created the Keith Parker Jr. Foundation to honor her son's life and legacy.…

Read More

Caught by Surprise at 31: Tyler Fletcher’s Kidney Cancer Story

Patient Stories

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.…

Read More

You Only Live Twice

Patient Stories

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…

Read More

Creative Carcinoma

Patient Stories

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…

Read More

What Cancer Taught Jeremy Kimpton About Family and Faith

Patient Stories

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…

Read More