Patient Stories

This is a guest post by David Miller, 61, a hospitality consultant and kidney cancer survivor based in Freehold, New Jersey. Growing up, my dad — Lewis Miller — was my hero. He was the person I looked up to, admired, and modeled myself after. He owned his own business, worked tirelessly, and rarely ever slowed down. He was always…

In a recent episode of the Cancer Interviews podcast, Nicole Scott — member of the Kidney Cancer Association’s Patient & Caregiver Advisory Council — shared her story of becoming a caregiver when her husband, Keith, was diagnosed with papillary renal cell carcinoma. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ajztvAkUeGE&t=206s&pp=ygUibmljb2xlIHNjb3R0IHRoZSBjYW5jZXIgaW50ZXJ2aWV3cw%3D%3D Nicole and Keith worked together at the same Ohio hospital when Keith began experiencing pain in his…

In a powerful interview with The Patient Story, KCA Ambassador Jeff Kallis shared how a scan for a suspected kidney stone led to a diagnosis of stage 3, grade 3 clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC). After a radical nephrectomy to remove one of his kidneys and confirmation of renal vein involvement, Jeff leaned into support from family, faith, and…

This is a guest post by Sarah Jacobson, who's father Dave Jones was diagnosed with kidney cancer and passed away in March 2025. My father Dave Jones was diagnosed with collecting duct renal cell carcinoma in March of 2024. He had a sister pass from pancreatic cancer several years ago and then a brother diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in early 2024.…

In a new episode of the Cancer Interviews podcast, host and prostate cancer survivor Bruce Morton speaks with Kidney Cancer Association Ambassador Jeff Kallis about his journey with kidney cancer and how it led him to advocacy. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hdU8LFPJk8I Jeff was diagnosed with stage 3 clear cell renal cell carcinoma in 2023. Since then, he’s not only navigated treatment and recovery, but found…

On average, someone who receives a kidney cancer diagnosis is in their 60s. However, kidney cancer can affect children, adolescents, and adults of any age. That means an unthinkable and all-consuming life event hits just when someone should be engrossed in school, their career, and building families and communities. We're recognizing Adolescent & Young Adult Cancer Awareness Week by sharing…

This is a guest post by Dylan Wisman, 28, of Winchester, VA. My name is Dylan Wisman, and in November 2023, my life changed forever. I was 27 and back in Missouri for an alumni wrestling weekend — but just as importantly, I was out deer hunting, chasing another elusive Missouri wall hanger. That Friday morning, out in the woods…

This is a guest post by Kiana Jones. Kiana’s father Sammie Jones was diagnosed with kidney cancer and passed away in 2024. Sammie Jones's family: Sammie Jr., Valeria, Sam, and Kiana. My father, Sammie Jones, was more than a cancer patient; he was a loving husband, father, and grandfather who wanted to live and fight to be with his family.…

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…

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…