Patient Stories

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.…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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Healthy at 33. Two Kids. A Busy Life. Then Came the Words: "You Have Cancer."

Patient Stories

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…

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6 Lessons From My Patients, Who Prepared Me for Cancer

Patient Stories

This is a guest post by Alena Guggenheim, N.D., Assistant Professor of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine at the Oregon Health & Science University's School of Medicine in Portland, Oregon. Dr. Guggenheim was diagnosed with a malignant sarcoma in late 2024 after discovering a large mass on her kidney. Dr. Alena Guggenheim I had been feeling slightly off for a week, a…

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Growth Isn’t Scary, But It’s Okay If You Think It Is

Patient Stories

This is a guest post by Sid Sadler. Sid was diagnosed with stage 2 kidney cancer in February 2024. He is married to his wife of eight years, Rachel, they have two loving pups Ollie and Penny, and a daughter named Parker. Sid is a member of the Kidney Cancer Association's Patient & Caregiver Advisory Council. Follow him at @theunremarkablekidney…

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Erin Sharp's Kidney Cancer Story

Patient Stories

This is a guest post by Erin Sharp, 27, who was diagnosed with chromophobe renal cell carcinoma in 2025. Erin lives outside Denver, Colorado. Erin Sharp with her husband Austin and son Emmett. My experience with kidney cancer is one that is truly so unbelievable that it’s hard to put into words, but I felt like it would be worth…

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Marquita Spriggs's Kidney Cancer Story

Patient Stories

This is a guest post by Marquita Spriggs, 44. She lives with her family in Waldorf, Maryland. Marquita Spriggs One evening while working out in 2015, I had a pain in my side that barely allowed me to walk. My husband insisted we go to the emergency room, and I am so grateful he did. I was thinking I pulled…

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Holding the Beast at Bay: My Journey with Kidney Cancer

Patient Stories

This is a guest post by Julie Mulligan, 52. She lives in Burlington, Wisconsin with her family. Julie Mulligan with her husband Tim and sons Alex and Zack. In March of 2022, I went to the doctor after noticing blood in my urine—just once. I felt healthy and assumed it was nothing serious. At the time, I was a mom…

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