Podcast Playlists: Pregnancy & Parenting
Whether you’re thinking about starting a family, expecting a child, or already navigating the challenges of parenthood, a kidney cancer diagnosis can bring a whole new set of questions. Our podcast, Kidney Cancer Unfiltered, addresses these through candid conversations with people across the spectrum of kidney cancer, from families navigating a diagnosis to doctors who treat patients every day to researchers on the frontlines of discovery.
The “Pregnancy & Parenting” playlist brings together honest conversations with patients, caregivers, and experts about fertility, pregnancy, and parenting while living with kidney cancer. From understanding fertility after treatment to talking with your children about cancer, these episodes offer practical guidance, shared experiences, and reassurance that you don’t have to navigate these moments alone.
Fertility and Cancer: Questions No One Prepares You For
There’s no playbook for facing fertility while navigating kidney cancer. Survivor Janelle Moxley shares her journey through IVF, recurrence, and the questions no one prepares you for… “I kind of wondered: cancer was hard on me, why can’t pregnancy be easy? Why is that hard too?”
Navigating Kidney Cancer While Pregnant
Heather Williams faced the unimaginable, receiving a rare kidney cancer diagnosis and finding out she was pregnant in the span on 13 days. Heather was just over a year into marriage to the love of her life and they hoped to start a family. Heather shares the challenges of undergoing treatment for the rare type of kidney cancer called renal medullary carcinoma (RMC) while pregnant and the unwavering support from her medical team.
Fertility After Cancer: What You Need to Know
Dr. Kara Goldman is a reproductive endocrinologist at Northwestern Feinberg School of Medicine. Dr. Goldman helps break down everything you need to know about fertility preservation after cancer — from navigating conflicting medical advice to making empowered choices about your future family. Whether you’re newly diagnosed or years into survivorship, it’s never too early (or too late) to ask: Do I want kids?.
Young and Resilient: Parenting With Cancer
aley Pollack, Executive Director of Bright Spot Network, talks about what it really means to parent through a cancer diagnosis. Haley shares personal stories, practical wisdom, and a powerful reminder: you don’t have to be perfect — you just have to be present. This episode covers everything from embracing mac & cheese for dinner to allowing yourself grace through survivorship and parenthood.
Supporting Children When Their Parent has Cancer
Cancer doesn’t just affect patients — it impacts families, too. Jay Stilwell, CEO of the nonprofit organization Kesem, shares how we can better support children when a parent has cancer and why early intervention matters.
To see our full podcast collection and stay up to date with future seasons, visit https://www.kidneycancer.org/podcast/.