Nicole Scott Featured on Cancer Interviews Podcast

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.

Nicole and Keith worked together at the same Ohio hospital when Keith began experiencing pain in his left side. Initially thinking it was job-related muscle pain, he delayed care until the discomfort became more persistent. At Nicole’s urging, he went to urgent care, where a CT scan revealed a mass on his kidney. A partial nephrectomy confirmed his cancer diagnosis.

Nicole told host Bruce Morton that the emotional toll of caregiving was the hardest part — facing fear, uncertainty, and the weight of responsibility while trying to stay strong for the person she loved most. Though she came close to burnout, she emphasized the importance of staying hopeful and making time for self-care. “It’s not selfish,” she said, to ask for help or to take a break. “It helps you be a better caregiver.”

Nicole’s advice to other caregivers? Take a deep breath, stay hopeful, and remember that taking care of yourself makes you stronger for the person you’re supporting.

Read more of Nicole’s reflections on kidney cancer and caregiving in her guest posts for the KCA blog: