Rebecca’s Unexpected Journey

The Diagnosis I Didn’t See Coming

One year ago, I was standing in front of a canvas at Mentor City Hall in Mentor, Ohio, where I was the featured summer artist. I posed for photos beside one of my most popular images, The Journey. At the time, I thought the “journey” I was celebrating was my creative one—as a photographer, author, and poet. Little did I know that within a few hours, I would begin a very different kind of journey, one I never could have anticipated.

That evening, during what should have been a joyful celebration of my art, I was struck with sudden pain. The pain turned out to be a kidney stone, but when I rushed to urgent care, the CT scan revealed something much more serious: a tumor on my left kidney.

I was shocked. Stunned. Devastated. I had always been healthy and had no symptoms. The kidney stone, completely unrelated to the cancer, was in many ways my saving grace. Without it, who knows how long the tumor might have gone undetected?

In August 2024, I underwent surgery to remove the tumor. I was fortunate—it was stage 1 with clear margins. Today, I am cancer free.

I often think about how the timing of that artist’s reception—planned over a year in advance—placed me within a couple miles of an ER connected to the Cleveland Clinic, where I ended up in the care of an excellent urologist. Maybe it was coincidence. Maybe it was my guardian angel playing the long game.

Life After Cancer

As an artist with a vivid imagination, I have always been a worrier and an overthinker. Now, the challenge is even greater: convincing myself that not every ache or pain means the cancer is back. At the same time, I’m learning to live with the unshakable truth that nothing is permanent—not even these bodies we inhabit.

The trick, I’ve found, is finding a balance: keeping the reality of mortality close enough to live meaningfully, but not letting fear overshadow joy. Some days I do better than others.

What Grounds Me

I am deeply grateful for the people who walked with me through this journey. My partner Stefan was a steady source of comfort, and my friend Janet, a breast cancer survivor herself, gave me insight and strength when I needed it most.

I also lean heavily on the things I love most: photography, writing, genealogy, antiques collecting, and beachcombing. 

Reflections and Advice

Am I scared the cancer will return? Yes. But I am also scared of many other things. What matters is how I choose to spend each day. I choose to write novels and poetry, take photographs, learn new things, travel, and spend time with the people I love. Every day I remind myself that life is beautiful.

For those newly diagnosed with kidney cancer, here’s my advice:

• Find the right doctor—a specialist in kidney cancer—and seek care at a reputable hospital.

• Join a support group to learn from others who have walked this path.

• Learn as much as you can, but also learn when to stop thinking about it. Don’t let cancer consume every moment of your life.

Making It Meaningful

This anniversary reminds me that life is temporary, but it is also a gift. We each have talents and purposes to share, and we owe it to ourselves and to others to make our time here meaningful.

As an artist and writer, my mission is to keep creating images and words that bring comfort, reflection, and inspiration. As a human being, my mission is to love deeply, live fully, and seek out what is true and light in a world often filled with darkness.

I know I’ll never take my health—or this life—for granted again. And I’ll keep striving to make it meaningful.