
2023 IKCS: North America to feature three special awards
November 6, 2023
The 2023 International Kidney Cancer Symposium: North America will feature three special awards honoring standout members of the kidney cancer…
Read MoreThis is a guest post by Annamarya Scaccia, a KCA Ambassador. Annamarya was diagnosed with kidney cancer in 2020. She is a certified fitness and nutrition coach who helps kidney cancer survivors optimize their performance without sacrificing their health. Header photo courtesy of Carlos J. Gallegos.
I didn’t know it at the time, but when I was diagnosed with kidney cancer in late 2020, my dreams of being an amateur Muay Thai fighter would later shatter. My urologist hoped to perform a partial nephrectomy, but after cutting into my body and seeing the tumor’s location on my left kidney, he decided the whole organ had to go. Now, I only have my right kidney to spare—and I can’t spare it at all.
Which meant I couldn’t fight in any ring. After all, I doubt an opponent would take it easy on me and not kick my right side because I asked nicely. So, I traded my gloves for weights and dove headfirst into the world of natural bodybuilding, competing in my first show back in November 2021. (I would go on to compete in two more shows this past fall.)
I have been very open and honest about my story on social media, and over the last 2.5 years, I’ve had several kidney cancer survivors, as well as people with kidney health issues, reach out to me to learn more about my story—my programming, my health, my protein intake. They tell me that they would “love to be a bodybuilder,” but now they “can’t” because they’ve lost a kidney. They recount stories of coaches and doctors who tell them they could never compete again because they can’t eat all the protein in the world. And with every conversation, my response is always the same:
I didn’t become a bodybuilder until after I lost my left kidney—and until after my protein intake was cut considerably.
Real talk: being the one-kidney bodybuilder is not easy. Bodybuilding is a humbling sport in-and-of itself, but when you’ve had a kidney removed, it can feel completely intimidating. Bulking is even slower, nutrition is even harder, and you long for protein something fierce. Where other natural bodybuilders may knock out 5 shows in a year, you may only be able to compete in two, because you need to be cognizant of putting too much strain on your remaining kidney. Not to mention, all the mindset work you need to do to heal, both from the trauma of cancer and how that cancer has altered your body and entire life. Dealing with scanixety in the middle of prep magnifies the stress of the experience.
But, even with the added challenges, it is possible to be a bodybuilder with one kidney. It takes honest, diligence, resilience, time, and intention. To start the journey, you have to:
Being a one-kidney bodybuilder takes focus, dedication, consistency, and an understanding of the right programming and strategies for your body. It will be hard work, it will be uncomfortable work, and you may not always be motivated to see it through. But if you know your end goal is greater than what you feel in any given moment, your determination to see what you could do will drive you.
2 thoughts on “You can’t be a bodybuilder with one kidney… can you?”
Readings from actual kidney cancer patients helps me tremendously! I feel like I finally can relate to someone who has gone through the same thing. I’d like to hear more from people with stage 4 kidney cancer…their drugs, process, length of time, feelings and struggles.
Thank you for publishing these articles!
I have found this so helpful. I lift heavy and am trying to develop a muscular physique after losing a kidney to cancer last year only to find now that my remaining kidney function is borderline. I have stopped the Creatine, Potassium and all supplements and having concern over not being able to eat the protein considered necessary became very disheartened.
I am however taking hope from this article and will be digger deeper into the matter.
My thanks