When Cancer Came Twice

This is a guest post by Colleen Schultz, 46, who is diagnosed with stage 2 papillary renal cell carcinoma. Her husband Bryan, 47, was later diagnosed with chromophobe renal cell carcinoma. Colleen and Bryan met in high school and married shortly after. They have made a life together raising their two children at the Jersey Shore. Colleen is a Registered Nurse and Bryan is a Water Treatment Operator. Colleen says, “we hope that our story encourages others newly diagnosed with kidney cancer and reminds caregivers and patients that they are not alone and life can look ‘normal’ again.”

My name is Colleen, and I live in New Jersey with my husband of 26 years. If someone had told us years ago that kidney cancer would become part of both of our lives, we never would have believed it. Yet today, we find ourselves walking a path that neither of us expected—one that has tested our strength, deepened our faith, and ultimately brought us even closer together.

Four and a half years ago, I was diagnosed with papillary type 2 renal cell carcinoma, a rare form of non-clear cell kidney cancer. Hearing the words “you have cancer” instantly changed my life. I underwent a radical right nephrectomy, and while the surgery removed my cancer, the emotional and physical recovery took time. Throughout every doctor’s appointment, scan, and difficult day, my husband stood faithfully by my side. He was my caregiver, my encourager, and my greatest source of strength when I needed it most.

Thankfully, the years that followed brought good news. One by one, my surveillance scans continued to come back clear. With each appointment, I became more grateful for the opportunity to move forward while never taking my health for granted.

Then, just four months ago, our lives changed once again. This time, it was my husband who was diagnosed with kidney cancer. He was found to have chromophobe renal cell carcinoma, another uncommon type of non-clear cell kidney cancer. Watching the person who had cared for me become the patient was heartbreaking. He underwent a partial left nephrectomy, and I was able to stand beside him just as he had stood beside me years earlier. I became his caregiver, his advocate, and his source of encouragement through surgery and recovery.

Although our diagnoses were different, we both share the unique experience of living with non-clear cell kidney cancer. It is a journey that can sometimes feel isolating because these subtypes are less common, but it has also taught us the importance of hope, resilience, and community.

Today, we are navigating cancer survivorship together. We understand the anxiety that comes with follow-up scans, the gratitude that accompanies good results, and the perspective that cancer brings to everyday life. While neither of us would have chosen this journey, it has strengthened our marriage in ways we never imagined. We have learned to lean on one another with greater compassion, celebrate the ordinary moments, and treasure the gift of each new day.

Our experience has also strengthened our relationship with God. Through uncertainty, fear, and healing, our faith has become our foundation. We have found comfort in prayer, peace in God’s promises, and hope even during the most difficult seasons. Cancer changed our lives, but it did not define them. Instead, it reminded us of the power of love, faith, and perseverance.

As we continue this journey together, we hope that sharing our story offers encouragement to others facing kidney cancer. Whether you are the patient, the caregiver, or both, you are not alone. There is hope after diagnosis, healing after surgery, and strength to be found even in life’s most unexpected challenges.