Kidney Cancer Unfiltered

We're closing out Season 5 of Kidney Cancer Unfiltered with a deep dive into Men’s Mental Health. Masculinity and cancer can be a complicated mix, but emotional well-being isn't a gendered concept, it’s a human one. Dennis Heffern, LCSW and Marc Olivares, MA, MS, LPC-S join host Annamaria Scaccia to break down:✨ Why "pushing through" can work against your healing✨ Using a "strengths-based approach" to find your way back up✨ How loved ones can better understand the unique way men express distressIf there is a man in your life who needs to hear this, send it to them! Visit kidneycancer.org for more support and resources.

Grief doesn't look the same for everyone. It shows up in waves, in silence, and sometimes, it becomes the force that moves you forward. This week on Kidney Cancer Unfiltered, host Annamaria Scaccia sits down with Ritchie Johnson, MBA, BSN, RN, President and Founder of the Chris “CJ” Johnson Foundation. After losing her son to Renal Medullary Carcinoma (RMC), Ritchie turned his legacy into a mission to dismantle the systemic barriers facing the RMC community. In this episode, we discuss:🧡 What it means to turn grief into advocacy🩺 The reality of RMC: a "wildfire" cancer that demands urgent, expert care🤝 Breaking down medical "silos" to ensure no patient is left behindThanks to Ritchie for sharing her powerful story. Visit kidneycancer.org for more support and resources.

There’s no playbook for facing fertility while navigating kidney cancer. 🧡 Survivor Janelle Moxley joins host Annamaria Scaccia to share her journey through IVF, recurrence, and the questions no one prepares you for... "I kind of wondered: cancer was hard on me, why can't pregnancy be easy? Why is that hard too?"A must-listen for anyone walking this road. Visit kidneycancer.org for more support and resources.

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.

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.