Kidney Cancer Unfiltered

Caregiving is a marathon of the heart. On the latest Kidney Cancer Unfiltered, Sara Benitez, LCSW, OSW-C of Moffitt Cancer Center shares with host Annamaria Scaccia how to navigate the terrain, including:🎙️ Why "hard" conversations matter🎙️ Maintaining your identity🎙️ Resources for YOUVisit kidneycancer.org for more support and resources.

Cancer takes so much, but it shouldn’t take your sense of self or your right to intimacy. In our latest episode, "Sex After Cancer: Desire, Communication, and Self-Love," host Annamaria Scaccia is joined by the incredible Ebonie Michelle, MPH, Founder of Prowl The LAB. They dive into the vulnerability of navigating new physical sensations, the power of self-love, and why choosing yourself is the first step toward reclaiming your sexual wellness. This isn't just about a diagnosis; it’s about finding the strength to be your most authentic self in your relationships.Visit kidneycancer.org for more support and resources.

How do we express the things that feel impossible to put into words? In our season 5 premiere episode, The Art of Healing, host Annamaria Scaccia and Kayla Fulginiti of Elephants and Tea dive into the power of creative expression. From the rhythm of pottery and knitting to the physical release of dance and movement — it’s about meeting yourself where you are and releasing the expectations that often come with the cancer experience.Visit kidneycancer.org for more support and resources.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.