Kidney Cancer Unfiltered

Fertility After Cancer: What You Need to Know

Tue, 09 Sep 2025 04:30:00 GMT

In this season's final episode, host Annamaria Scaccia talks to Dr. Kara Goldman, 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? Visit kidneycancer.org for more support and resources.

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Stop the Worry: Simple Ways to Manage Anxiety

Tue, 02 Sep 2025 04:30:00 GMT

Anxiety after #kidneycancer? You’re not alone. In episode 7 of Kidney Cancer Unfiltered, Dr. Tracy Murray from Ochsner Health shares with host Annamaria Scaccia why getting professional help matters, simple ways to ease anxiety, and the truth about not having to “be strong” all the time. Visit kidneycancer.org for more support and resources.

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Cancer At Work

Tue, 26 Aug 2025 04:30:00 GMT

Cancer at Work — What are your rights? Joanna Fawzy Doran, Esq., CEO of Triage Cancer, joins host Annamaria Scaccia to discuss the legal and practical challenges people face when navigating cancer and employment. From understanding protections under laws like FMLA and ADA to knowing what isn't guaranteed, this episode is packed with essential info — plus resources for free legal and financial guidance. Visit kidneycancer.org for more support and resources.

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Can You Be Fit With One Kidney?

Tue, 19 Aug 2025 04:30:00 GMT

Can You Be Fit with One Kidney? Kidney cancer survivor Josh Silva shares with Annamaria Scaccia how an incidental diagnosis at 31 changed his life — and how fitness, gratitude, and being present have shaped his healing. He speaks candidly about survivor’s guilt and reminds others: Your cancer experience is valid, no matter what it looked like. Visit kidneycancer.org for more support and resources.

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Your Health, Your Way: Integrative & Support Care

Tue, 12 Aug 2025 04:30:00 GMT

Mari Galle, L. Ac, DACM & founder of Moving Beyond Cancer Collaborative joined Annamaria Scaccia on Kidney Cancer Unfiltered to discuss the importance of integrative oncology care — approaches that support the whole person, not just the disease. Galle emphasized that healing isn’t one-size-fits-all and encourages patients to build a care plan tailored to their needs, including modalities like physical therapy, exercise, nutrition, mind-body practices, and emotional support. Visit kidneycancer.org for more support and resources.

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Unheard Stories: Kidney Cancer in Native Americans

Tue, 05 Aug 2025 04:30:00 GMT

In this episode of Kidney Cancer Unfiltered, we spotlight the often-overlooked experiences of Native American communities in the context of kidney cancer. Experts Dr. Monica Yellowhair of the Arizona Cancer Center and Dr. Ken Batai of Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center share research findings on health disparities, barriers to care, and the need for culturally respectful treatment in tribal communities.

Nancy Washburn, also of Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, brings a vital voice to the conversation — offering a front-line view of what it means to navigate patients through a system full of red tape and limited access. With host Annamaria Scaccia, the conversation emphasizes the crucial role of patient navigators and community health workers in bridging healthcare gaps and ensuring Native patients don’t fall through the cracks and calls on providers, researchers, and systems to do better — for ALL patients.

Visit kidneycancer.org for more support and resources.

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Young & Resilient: Parenting with Cancer

Tue, 29 Jul 2025 04:30:00 GMT

In this week's conversation, host Annamaria Scaccia sat down with Haley Pollack, Executive Director of Bright Spot Network, to talk 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. They cover everything from embracing mac & cheese for dinner to allowing yourself grace through survivorship and parenthood.

Visit kidneycancer.org for more support and resources.

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Fact vs. Fiction: Dealing with Misinformation in Medicine

Tue, 22 Jul 2025 04:30:00 GMT

Kidney Cancer Unfiltered returns for season 4 with host Annamaria Scaccia. In our season opener, survivor Maritza Giordano shares the emotional rollercoaster of her kidney cancer diagnosis — including how one misinformed phone call left her believing she was being scheduled for chemo and radiation. The truth? It was a mix-up about genetic testing. Joined by her surgeon, Dr. Suzanne Merrill of Colorado Urology, the two dive into how medical miscommunication and misinformation can deeply impact a patient’s journey — and how to advocate for yourself through it all.

Visit kidneycancer.org for more support and resources.

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Supporting Children when their Parent has Cancer

Tue, 04 Mar 2025 05:30:00 GMT

Cancer doesn’t just affect patients — it impacts families, too. In the final episode of Kidney Cancer Unfiltered season 3, host Annamaria Scaccia speaks with Jay Stilwell, CEO of the nonprofit organization Kesem, who shares how we can better support children when a parent has cancer and why early intervention matters. Visit kidneycancer.org for more support and resources.

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Why Bedside Manner Matters

Tue, 25 Feb 2025 05:30:00 GMT

This week, Dr. Matthew Campbell from the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center joins host Annamaria Scaccia in conversation about why bedside manners matter. From building trust to improving patient outcomes, compassionate care can make all the difference. Visit kidneycancer.org for more support and resources.

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Advocating for Palliative Care

Tue, 18 Feb 2025 05:30:00 GMT

Host Annamaria Scaccia talks to Joel Stern, KCA Board member and a dedicated peer mentor, to discuss the importance of advocating for Palliative care. From pain management to quality of life, their conversation sheds light on why palliative care matters for kidney cancer patients. Visit kidneycancer.org for more support and resources.

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Patterns Found Between the Environment and Kidney Cancer

Tue, 11 Feb 2025 05:30:00 GMT

Host Annamaria Scaccia takes a deep dive into the connection between plastic pollution and kidney cancer with Dr. Laura Bukavina and Dr. Christopher Weight from the Cleveland Clinic. Bukavina and Weight explore how environmental exposures impact our health - and why we need to rethink our plastic consumption for the sake of our future and our health. Visit kidneycancer.org for more support and resources.

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Making it Through the Holidays with Cancer

Tue, 04 Feb 2025 05:30:00 GMT

Host Annamaria Scaccia connects with Sean Healy to discuss how to navigate the holiday season while facing the challenges of cancer. The holidays can be a tough time for many, especially when dealing with loss, stress, or difficult memories. In this episode, Sean shares how shifting focus, giving back to others, and accepting tough emotions can help ease the emotional load. Visit kidneycancer.org for more support and resources.

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When Cancer Shakes Up Friendships

Tue, 28 Jan 2025 05:30:00 GMT

In the first episode of Kidney Cancer Unfiltered season 3, host Annamaria Scaccia launches Season 3 with Claudia Tatum — a kidney cancer patient, advocate, and retired oncology nurse — who shares how her friends in the medical community have stepped up to support her throughout her journey, and how grateful she is for their compassion and guidance along the way. Visit kidneycancer.org for more support and resources.

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In Their Own Words: A conversation with the Scaccia family

Tue, 26 Nov 2024 05:30:50 GMT

In this episode, Kidney Cancer Unfiltered host Annamaria Scaccia gathers her own family for an intimate conversation about going through the cancer experience together and the impact it had on all of them. With her partner Sam and son Kelly, the family talks through learning about Annamaria's kidney cancer and subsequent thyroid cancer diagnoses and what life has been like since then. As Annamaria said, some things they have talked about before, other things were a revelation, but ultimately, the conversation brought them all a deeper understanding of what they were feeling. Because at the end of the day, it's not just Annamaria's cancer journey, it's something they share as a family. Visit kidneycancer.org for more support and resources.

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Cancer Doesn't Know an Age

Tue, 19 Nov 2024 05:30:53 GMT

Host Annamaria Scaccia talks with Katie Coleman and Dr. Pavlos Msaouel as they unpack Katie's stage 4 kidney cancer diagnosis at age 29. Katie shares her feelings of naivety and intimidation when she was first diagnosed, the long journey to trusting her treatment plans, and how she transformed her experience into her book, "Too Young for Cancer." Dr. Msaouel, a world-renown researcher and clinician with special expertise in rare types of kidney cancer, has journeyed with Katie and other patients to reach for better treatments and hope for the future.

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Navigating Kidney Cancer While Pregnant

Tue, 12 Nov 2024 05:30:55 GMT

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. With host Annamaria Scaccia, Heather shared 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. Visit kidneycancer.org for more support and resources.

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Does Where You Live Affect Your Care?

Tue, 05 Nov 2024 05:30:05 GMT

Dr. Pedro Barata is a kidney cancer expert and genitourinary medical oncologist at the University Hospitals Seidman Cancer Center in Ohio. He talks to host Annamaria Scaccia about the significant challenges of accessing quality oncology care in rural areas and how socioeconomic factors impact treatment outcomes as well as the role of social and case workers and the importance of building supportive cancer survivor communities. Visit kidneycancer.org for more support and resources.

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Long-Term Cancer Survivorship

Tue, 29 Oct 2024 04:30:48 GMT

Raul Chavez is an 18-year kidney cancer survivor with an unclassifiable diagnosis. In conversation with host Annamaria Scaccia, Raul shared the emotional and mental toll of living life in three-month intervals, always wondering if he’ll receive a new lease on life with each scan. Raul described the post-traumatic stress he endured after his diagnosis and being in "survivor mode" during the first five years. Visit kidneycancer.org for more support and resources.

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Living With Multiple Cancers

Tue, 22 Oct 2024 04:30:07 GMT

Amy Plaizier has faced not one but TWO cancers in a short period of time - kidney cancer and thyroid cancer. With host Annamaria Scaccia, Amy discussed the challenges of managing her symptoms, treatment side effects, and the lack of research connecting kidney and thyroid cancers. Visit kidneycancer.org for more support and resources.

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Experiencing Kidney Cancer as a Young Black Woman

Tue, 15 Oct 2024 04:30:52 GMT

Mallory Foxx is a kidney cancer survivor and the 2023 Mrs. Black International Ambassador, a title she won while preparing for surgery. In conversation with host Annamaria Scaccia, Mallory's story is a reminder of the importance of advocating for yourself, building a strong support network, and finding multiple communities. Visit kidneycancer.org for more support and resources.

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Diet & Nutrition

Tue, 08 Oct 2024 04:30:30 GMT

Host Annamaria Scaccia sits down with Kate Zalewski, RD, a specialized kidney cancer dietitian, to debunk common diet myths and misconceptions. Kate emphasizes the importance of personalized nutrition plans and how proper nutrition can support your treatment and overall well-being. Visit kidneycancer.org for more support and resources.

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The Power of Social Media

Tue, 01 Oct 2024 04:30:06 GMT

Sid Sadler opens up about the importance of social media in his kidney cancer journey. After his diagnosis, Sid turned to TikTok and Instagram to find community, humor, and invaluable resources. His story highlights how these platforms can connect people one-on-one and provide much-needed support. Visit kidneycancer.org for more support and resources.

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Pediatric Kidney Cancer: Affecting the Entire Family

Tue, 24 Sep 2024 04:30:43 GMT

Join host Annamaria Scaccia as we kick off season 2 of Kidney Cancer Unfiltered with a deeply moving episode featuring the Sanders family. Hear from Alexandra Sanders, mother to Andre "Dre" Sanders, who has a kidney cancer diagnosis, about pediatric kidney cancer, the unique challenges of his treatment, and the life-altering effects on his entire family. Visit kidneycancer.org for more support and resources.

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Trailer, Season 2 - Kidney Cancer Unfiltered

Fri, 20 Sep 2024 12:22:10 GMT

Welcome back for season 2 of Kidney Cancer Unfiltered, a podcast by the Kidney Cancer Association. Host and kidney cancer survivor Annamaria Scaccia leads candid conversations with people impacted by kidney cancer to dive deep into the raw, unfiltered stories that often go untold. In each episode, we explore the emotional rollercoaster of kidney cancer and how to come out resilient. Because when it comes to kidney cancer, every story deserves to be heard, unfiltered. Subscribe and join us every week for conversations that matter.

For more information about kidney cancer, visit the Kidney Cancer Association at www.kidneycancer.org.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Caregiving

Tue, 05 Mar 2024 10:00:56 GMT

Sarah Bobo was a caregiver for her late father during his journey with kidney cancer. She joins host Annamaria Scaccia to share insights on caring for a loved one, life after loss, and her emergence as a passionate advocate for self care and understanding, especially among other caregivers. Visit kidneycancer.org for more support and resources.

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Intimacy and Relationships

Tue, 27 Feb 2024 10:00:34 GMT

John Ferrell, a kidney cancer patient, and Nichole Goble, Director of Community Initiatives at the Caregiver Action Network, join host Annamaria Scaccia to dive into the complexities of intimacy and relationships when living with cancer, from how the dynamics of closeness change to showing vulnerability while processing new emotions. Visit kidneycancer.org for more support and resources.

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Cancer at a Young Age (Part 2)

Tue, 20 Feb 2024 10:00:02 GMT

Melissa Helmick is a young kidney cancer survivor who continues to grapple with the unknown. She joins host Annamaria Scaccia to share how she was initially dismissed by providers who labeled kidney cancer as an "old person’s disease," leading to isolation and uncertainty. Listen with us as we go through her journey of finding resilience and connecting with fellow young adult survivors. Visit kidneycancer.org for more support and resources.

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Cancer at a Young Age (Part 1)

Tue, 13 Feb 2024 10:00:09 GMT

Jason Hinojosa, a two-time kidney cancer survivor, talks with host Annamaria Scaccia about balancing work and ambition, finding support in others, and becoming a parent while navigating cancer. Visit kidneycancer.org for more support and resources.

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Managing Emotions (Part 2)

Tue, 06 Feb 2024 10:00:40 GMT

Lauren Burling, MSS, LCSW, is a therapist and clinical oncology social worker with the organization Cancer Support Community. She joins host Annamaria Scaccia to unpack the heavy emotions people with cancer often face through their journey, including the evolving landscape of psychosocial care, "scanxiety", and techniques to manage your emotions independently, as well as practical steps to take to find mental health support. Visit kidneycancer.org for more support and resources.

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Managing Emotions (Part 1)

Tue, 30 Jan 2024 10:00:38 GMT

Steven Edwards, diagnosed after 9/11 with kidney cancer, and his daughter Lisia Edwards join host Annamaria Scaccia to discuss supporting a parent through a diagnosis, the pivotal role of communication, and the importance of providing outlets for children navigating the emotional journey of living with cancer. Visit kidneycancer.org for more support and resources.

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The Collective Cancer Experience

Tue, 23 Jan 2024 10:00:56 GMT

Tracy Poyneer talks with host Annamaria Scaccia about the challenges of navigating kidney cancer during the Covid-19 pandemic and the lasting effects we don't talk enough about. Tracy also gets real about life after surgery and, beyond her journey, how she's championed breaking down barriers and building bridges in the community. Visit kidneycancer.org for more support and resources.

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Trailer - Kidney Cancer Unfiltered

Tue, 16 Jan 2024 05:03:57 GMT

Welcome to Kidney Cancer Unfiltered, a podcast by the Kidney Cancer Association. Host and kidney cancer survivor Annamaria Scaccia leads candid conversations with people impacted by kidney cancer to dive deep into the raw, unfiltered stories that often go untold. In each episode, we explore the emotional rollercoaster of kidney cancer and how to come out resilient. Because when it comes to kidney cancer, every story deserves to be heard, unfiltered. Subscribe and join us every week for conversations that matter.

For more information about kidney cancer, visit the Kidney Cancer Association at www.kidneycancer.org.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.