October 2021
Handling the Holidays with Cancer:
Creating a "New Normal" during the Holiday Season
The holidays can be a stressful and hectic time of year, even when you're feeling well. Coping with cancer at the same time can make it overwhelming. We have gathered experts to share strategies to support your overall wellbeing during the holiday season. Plan to join us to get tips and to communicate with people who understand what you're experiencing.

  • Managing Your Expectations and Energy
  • Feeling Your Best (when it's not that great)
  • Keeping Up Your Holiday Spirits


A KidneyCAN Town Hall Event
Tuesday, November 30th
5:30-7:00 pm ET
Zoom Webinar

Mark your calendars! We'll send a registration link in the days ahead.
2021 Kidney Cancer Research Summit:
Bringing the Brightest Minds Together
The 2021 Kidney Cancer Research Summit was held on October 7–8, 2021. Our annual research summit was a success. If you missed out this year, be sure to join us next year! While the presenters are doctors and researchers, and the intended audience is primarily medical, patients tell us they like being "in the loop" as the newest research and treatments are discussed by leading experts.

KCRS21 consisted of an in-person meeting in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and also a hybrid format that included a concurrent interactive program broadcast online via Zoom webinar.

You can see what was discussed at KCRS21 by visiting our event website. Presentation slides and videos are available:
Want to watch the KCRS21 playlist? Check out our YouTube channel:
“I want to applaud KidneyCAN and the meeting organizers. [KCRS] is a wonderful experience. I can remember years back, whenever we would have a meeting or a conference for kidney cancer, we were lucky if maybe five people signed up. The dramatic gains we’ve made – it’s the interest from patient advocacy groups that’s fostered this experience.”

- Dr. Robert Motzer,
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
Fall Advocacy Days:
A Targeted Micro-Strike to Fund Research
In 2021, KidneyCAN's advocates have held hundreds of meetings with Congressional offices from districts across the United States to ask for kidney cancer research funding.

On December 1st, KidneyCAN will host a "targeted micro-strike" to specifically meet with Members of the House and Senate Appropriations subcommittees whose votes will determine whether our asks are met.

We need you to bring this funding home.

If you can join us, we will provide you with easy training and support on November 22nd at 4:30 pm ET, and we will engage in meetings during the day on December 1st. All participation will be via Zoom; you do not need to travel or even leave your home.

Advocacy matters! Will you help?
KidneyCAN Community Spotlight
Meet the Lesicas: A Father & Daughter Team
Tony Lesica, age 58, lives in Connecticut with his wife Jennine. They have three children: Jacquelyn (pictured here), Johnny, and Stacy. Tony was diagnosed with kidney cancer when he was 51 years old.
This month, KidneyCAN is sharing the Lesicas’ story.

Meet Tony and Jackie, a father and daughter from New England who have helped each other cope with Tony’s diagnosis of advanced kidney cancer. 

Jackie explains that the family learned of Tony’s illness when she was looking at colleges with her family. Seven years later, they're still enjoying Rangers games and their favorite cafe together.

In this feature, Tony and Jackie share how they stay positive and help others in the kidney cancer community. 

Be sure to check out their story! Tony and Jackie are inspiring, and their experiences are sure to help others dealing with a challenging diagnosis.
Research Update: Reducing Side Effects
We know we have drugs that can make patients live longer. A challenge is finding out how we can make patients live better during this time.

The following link includes a great video with Dr. Monty Pal and Dr. Jun Gong. They discuss reducing the side effects from dual immunotherapy while maintaining effectiveness. 
More information is included in this article you can print and discuss with your oncologist if Ipi/Nivo is something you are considering.
Research Update: New Treatments and Trial Results for RCC Presented at ESMO
This article from UroToday reviews the most recent summary of new treatments and trials results for RCC from ESMO 2021. 
Research Update: Better Understanding of Sarcomatoid Renal Cancer is Emerging
Sarcomatoid renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is a well-described histologic entity often featuring rapid progression and aggressive clinical course when compared with classic clear cell RCC. However, there is a paucity of data assessing the genetic alteration landscape of sarcomatoid RCC. Dr. Gennady Bratslavsky from SUNY Upstate Medical University discusses progress in genomic profiling.
Kidney cancer is the sixth most common cancer for men. It is the ninth most common cancer for women. Despite this, it is still one of the least funded research areas.
Our work is urgent, and we need your support.

Our mission is to accelerate cures for kidney cancer. We engage in patient advocacy and power research by supporting government and industry research funding, facilitating research collaborations, and offering direct financial support for clinical and laboratory researchers with promising ideas. Together, we can find the cure.
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.