When I first heard the words “you have kidney cancer”, I was completely stunned. My mind filled instantly with questions: What does this mean? What stage is it? What happens next? The shock was overwhelming, and in that moment, I felt the weight of uncertainty pressing in from every angle.

At the time my cancer was diagnosed, I was working as a Project Manager in Digital Marketing at Cleveland Clinic.. Outside of work, my world revolved around the things I loved most—spending time with family and friends, watching the Food Network with my husband Sam, walks with our dog Muggsy, cheering on the Cleveland Browns, and most recently, learning to play golf. These simple joys became even more important once cancer entered the picture.

My cancer story began unexpectedly. I first experienced a sharp pain that sent me straight to the emergency room. Doctors quickly determined the pain came from a kidney stone. But during the imaging process, the scans revealed something else. An MRI uncovered a mass on my left kidney.

A follow-up appointment confirmed the mass’s size and its location in the center of my kidney, the recommended course of action was a radical nephrectomy. In January 2023, I underwent surgery to remove the kidney. Pathology results brought clarity: the mass was cancerous, specifically Clear Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma. The good news, and one I continue to be deeply grateful for, was that the cancer had not spread beyond the kidney. It was contained.

Today, with several clear scans behind me, I am grateful beyond words. Kidney cancer has taught me to value not just my health, but also the everyday moments that make life rich.

If I could offer one piece of advice to someone newly diagnosed, it would be this: prioritize your well-being—both physical and mental.