May 2021
Spring Advocacy & Announcements
KidneyCAN Advocates Ask Congress to Fund Research
On March 8-9, KidneyCAN organized Spring Advocacy Days. The event was an incredible success, with delegates from all over the United States urging Congress to fund kidney cancer research.

This two-day event was developed, promoted, and operated by KidneyCAN for all stakeholders in the kidney cancer community. As KidneyCAN President Bryan Lewis says, “A rising tide lifts all boats. We're thankful to all the kidney cancer advocates across the country raising their voices.” 

You can read about the specific legislative "asks" (what we want Congress to fund) here.

Thank you to the many delegates who spoke up for the kidney cancer community on Advocacy Days. Be sure to see where we've honored you with a special listing on our website!
Congressman Jim Hagedorn (MN-01) was diagnosed with stage 4 RCC in 2018. Here, he meets with delegates to discuss funding for kidney cancer research.
* Mark your calendars now for summer District Days, our next advocacy event, on August 9th and 10th. We need you!
(Is your name on the wall? It can be! Ask us how to get involved!)
KidneyCAN Opens Registration for KCRS21
KidneyCAN is proud to open registration for the 3rd Annual Kidney Cancer Research Summit. KCRS is a meeting focused on basic, translational, and clinical kidney cancer research.

This meeting is fueled by the ideas and research funded through the Department of Defense CDMRP-KCRP awards. The goal for KCRS is to present the important, innovative research funded by the KCRP. We also aim to connect researchers from around the world to share their work.

Join us on October 7 and 8 for this dynamic, interactive meeting focused on the latest basic science, translational, and clinical research in kidney cancer. Registration is FREE for patients, caregivers, doctors, and researchers!
KidneyCAN Community Spotlight
Lucinda Peng: Inspired to Speak Up
KidneyCAN is excited to begin a new Spotlight Series, where we'll introduce you to members of the kidney cancer community whose stories inspire and motivate us in our work.

Today, we'd like you to meet Lucinda Peng, from Atlanta, Georgia. Lucinda is a founding member of the Joey's Wings Foundation, created in honor of Joey Xu. Read on as Lucinda shares how Joey's battle inspires her to continue advocating for kidney cancer research.
Lucinda is a 25-year-old biomedical PhD student at Georgia Tech. She enjoys hiking in the mountains of northern Georgia with her boyfriend and puppy.
"My friend Joey was diagnosed with stage IV translocation renal cell carcinoma in 2013," Lucinda shares. "At that time, there was no standard treatment for his disease. He underwent surgery and five different chemotherapies, but none of these slowed his disease progression."
"Most things in the moment seem like small steps, and sometimes those steps aren't in the right direction, but they still give me hope that small things that I can do, like advocacy and spreading awareness, can actually make a difference, and ultimately push us forward."
-- Lucinda
New Study Design & Novel Drugs
Umbrella trials test multiple drug combinations in a single trial. 

This is a design that can speed development of new treatments, and we're excited to see this trial design being used for kidney cancer. 

If you are eligible for this trial and interested, discuss it with your oncologist. 

Clinical trial participants are a critical piece in accelerating new cures for kidney cancer.
Immunotherapy May Slow Appearance of Metastatic Disease
After surgery, many kidney cancer patients worry about cancer returning. New trial results showed that, for some higher risk patients with renal cell carcinoma (RCC), Keytruda after following nephrectomy showed improvement in disease-free survival. Read more about what the study showed here:
We will lose almost 14,000 people to kidney cancer this year in the United States. Our work is urgent, and we need you.

Our mission is to accelerate cures. This can only happen with your support. Please consider a one-time or recurring donation to KidneyCAN.
Thank you for being part of our grassroots army!
KidneyCAN is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit and does not receive any funding through the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Program (CDMRP) or KCRP (Kidney Cancer Research Program). KidneyCAN's work is funded entirely through donations.