Patti Burke on Finding Love and Redefining Healing
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 of North Carolina Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center in November 2025. Watch all the presentations from that meeting.
When Patti Burke first learned she had metastatic kidney cancer, she wasn’t thinking about bucket lists, travel, or finding love. She was simply hoping for enough time to get her affairs in order, to support her family, and to say the things that needed to be said. What she didn’t know then was that treatment would give her something far greater than time: a chance to reimagine what life could look like after a cancer diagnosis.
A retired school nurse and former oncology nurse, Patti had spent years caring for others, but nothing could fully prepare her for becoming the patient.
What happened next surprised everyone.
After starting immunotherapy, Patti experienced a remarkable turnaround. Her energy returned, her appetite came back, and she began reclaiming parts of her life she thought she had lost forever. She picked up the violin again after decades away from it. She traveled. Most unexpectedly, she found love with Sam Moore, a childhood crush she had known since third grade.
Today, Patti continues to navigate life with metastatic kidney cancer. While her journey has included setbacks and additional treatment, she remains focused on what matters most: living fully.
One of the most powerful lessons Patti shares is the distinction between a cure and healing.
“I’m not cured and never will be, but there’s a big difference between curing and healing,” Patti said. “Healing is about feeling whole and having inner peace.” And she has indeed found healing in rediscovering old passions, embracing new experiences, and building a life filled with purpose, joy, and love.
Perhaps the greatest lesson from Patti’s kidney cancer journey is that life doesn’t stop at a diagnosis. Sometimes, the most meaningful chapters are the ones you never expected to write.
I love your story. I too am a retired nurse working in Homecare and Hospice. From old school I too thought I had a very short time left. But God Bless the researchers who have developed great treatment meds. Immunotherapy did not work for me but Cabozananib, a target therapy has worked great for me and I am soon celebrating my 9th year with no reoccurrence of new tumors. I thank the Lord for the time I have with my husband, children, grandchildren and our extended families.