Sid was a healthy 32-year-old with no family history of kidney cancer when blood in his urine stopped him cold: visible blood —and two large clots. The first ER sent him home without a CT. Exhausted, Sid thought it might be kidney stones. But his wife— a nurse practitioner—knew things weren’t right.

By the next morning, Sid’s symptoms returned. This time, he saw his primary care physician, who ordered a STAT CT. That same day, he learned that he had a 10.5 cm mass on his left kidney, likely cancer. “I still can smell that doctor’s waiting room,” Sid says. 

Sid underwent surgery to remove his left kidney (nephrectomy). He credits his PCP for swift action and clear communication. Two years later, Sid is cancer-free (NED)—and channeling his professional skills into advocacy. With a background in non-profit management and communications, he now uses his voice to help others navigate their journey with cancer.

When he isn’t volunteering or sharing his story, you’ll find Sid behind a camera (digital and film), hiking state-park trails with his wife, or enjoying the day with their dogs and 5-month-old baby. Those ordinary moments feel extraordinary now.

Sid says he didn’t walk this path alone. “First and foremost, my wife—my rock—was at every appointment and through every hard night,” he says. Early on, fellow patient Katie Coleman also became a lifeline. “She encouraged me to tell my story and guided me through those first few weeks. I can’t thank her enough.”

His advice to anyone newly diagnosed is both practical and compassionate: see an RCC specialist. He encourages others to “Join a support group, be as open as you’re comfortable. Feel the feelings, and talk about them. Cancer is scary, but it can be just a little less scary when you’re surrounded by people who get it.”