A blog written by kidney cancer patient Kirsty Neilson My journey begins My story began back in 2021. I was having an ultrasound for my endometriosis and the sonographer found fluid on my left kidney. The sonographer informed me that usually fluid is a sign of a kidney stone, however they couldn’t see one so she would get my consultant to investigate. I never heard anything, so assumed all was well. Throughout 2022 I kept getting abdominal pain and occasional back pain. When I went to the GP’s, they did urine samples, there was traces of blood but again I thought it was my endometriosis and di ..read more

Taste changes are common with a kidney cancer diagnosis, this can either be down to treatment or the cancer itself. You may find that you stop liking foods that you previously enjoyed or you may start enjoying foods you had no interest in before. One thing for sure is that everyone’s experience is unique to them. There are some simple changes you can make that may help you with this change, as it is important to keep eating enough to ensure your body is getting the energy it needs and is even more important if you are recovering from a nephrectomy or having treatment. It’s important that you d ..read more

Recently published in the New England Journal of Medicine, findings from the pivotal phase 3 trial, KEYNOTE-564, underscore a crucial development in adjuvant therapy for patients diagnosed with clear-cell renal-cell carcinoma (ccRCC) at high risk for recurrence. Led by Dr. Toni Choueiri, the study demonstrates the remarkable efficacy of pembrolizumab, an immunotherapy drug, in extending overall survival rates following surgical intervention. Patients administered pembrolizumab exhibited a notable 38% reduction in the risk of mortality compared to those receiving a placebo. This pivotal trial r ..read more

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We are very grateful to Sue Norman and the Urology Kidney Cancer Specialist Nursing team at Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge for their support of Kidney Cancer Awareness Week 2024. Sue told us:  “We are the Addenbrookes Urology Kidney Cancer Specialist Nursing team and we are here to support the patient, their family and friends at a very difficult time from the initial diagnosis to after surgery. We are also pleased to be a part of the new one-stop kidney biopsy service enabling patients to be given a diagnosis on the same day working with the radiology and pathology teams. This ..read more

The East Midlands Kidney Cancer Support Group had a very successful meeting in support of Kidney Cancer Awareness Week 2024 at the International Bomber Command Centre in Lincoln. With 29 in attendance, (12 patients, carers 11nursing and 6 nursing staff) members enjoyed a very good buffet lunch followed by some tips on mindfulness and then enjoyed a guided tour of the grounds and visiting the exhibition. Gifts were provided by the Flutter Project and Kidney Cancer UK who also provided information about kidney cancer.   Visit East Midlands Support Group Page     The post Great ..read more

A blog  for Kidney Cancer Awareness Week 2024 by Niki Ridge DIAGNOSIS My story starts in the latter part of 2021. I was 55, on HRT (Hormone replacement therapy) for several years but started getting terrible night sweats. I also had a persistent cough and some lower back pain that seemed to come and go. All just niggles really, but in January 2022 I went to see my GP to discuss. Given my age we decided that I might need to up my HRT for the sweats, I was referred for an x-ray for the cough and to keep moving for my back. I had the x-ray the next day and received a phone call that afternoo ..read more

A blog for Kidney Cancer Awareness Week by Alyson Murphy ROUND 1 Alyson and her daughters At the age of 20 I emigrated to South Africa with my then husband Gerard. At the age of 40 I was working as a Logistics Manager for Howden Safanco and had been divorced for two-years. By this time, I had two daughters; Kimberley (16) and Katherine (15) and was holding down a very busy lifestyle. I started feeling very tired and had a niggly pain in my right kidney which I thought could be the start of kidney stones or something. I wasn’t one for running to the doctor all the time so I just put up with ..read more

We are proud to be driving Kidney Cancer Awareness Week for the ninth year in succession. The 5th – 9th February is the week when we ask all our friends and supporters to start conversations about kidney cancer. Make as much noise, raise as many hot kidney cancer topics as you can and bring awareness of kidney cancer to everyone. Don’t let the first time they hear the words ‘kidney cancer’ is when their doctor tells them they have it. If we make people aware of the symptoms, the ways to reduce the chances of getting it through healthier living, and the ways to avoid contracting a disease they ..read more

A blog for Kidney Cancer Awareness Week 2024 by Louise Gartside  Cancer! Such a scary word. I didn’t know anybody who had cancer; nobody still alive anyway. For me it conjured up an image of chemo, losing your hair and dying. These were the thoughts going through my head as I sat in the Urologists office holding my partner of just 9 months hand as the consultant confirmed this was what had been found inside me. How could this be? I don’t smoke, I barely drink, some weight has crept on over the last couple of years but I’m heading into ‘that age’ so totally acceptable right? I’m not old en ..read more