Podcast Playlists: Newly Diagnosed
A kidney cancer diagnosis can bring many questions, emotions, and uncertainties. Our podcast, Kidney Cancer Unfiltered, addresses these through candid conversations with people across the spectrum of kidney cancer, from families navigating a diagnosis to doctors who treat patients every day to researchers on the frontlines of discovery.
The“Newly Diagnosed” playlist features the episodes that anyone facing a new kidney cancer diagnosis should listen to. Listen for support and guidance from patients, caregivers, and healthcare experts about managing emotions, finding reliable information, understanding the cancer experience, and navigating access to care. We hope these conversations help you feel informed, supported, and empowered throughout your diagnosis and treatment process.
The Collective Cancer Experience
Tracy Poyneer, a kidney cancer patient, talks about the challenges of navigating kidney cancer during the Covid-19 pandemic and the lasting effects we don’t talk enough about. Tracy also gets real about life after surgery and, beyond her journey, how she’s championed breaking down barriers and building bridges in the community.
Managing Emotions with Steven Edwards
Steven Edwards was diagnosed with kidney cancer as a likely result of toxic exposures due to his work as a journalist during 9/11. Steven and his daughter Lisia Edwards join host Annamaria Scaccia to discuss supporting a parent through a diagnosis, the pivotal role of communication, and the importance of providing outlets for children navigating the emotional journey of living with cancer. Steven was a member of the KCA’s Patient & Caregiver Advisory Council until he died in November 2024.
Fact vs. Fiction: Dealing with Medical Misinformation
Kidney cancer survivor Maritza Giordano shares the emotional rollercoaster of her kidney cancer diagnosis — including how one misinformed phone call left her believing she was being scheduled for chemo and radiation. The truth? It was a mix-up about genetic testing. Joined by her surgeon, Dr. Suzanne Merrill of Colorado Urology, the two dive into how medical miscommunication and misinformation can deeply impact a patient’s journey — and how to advocate for yourself through it all.
Does Where you Live Affect your Care?
Dr. Pedro Barata is a kidney cancer expert and genitourinary medical oncologist at the University Hospitals Seidman Cancer Center in Ohio. He talks to host Annamaria Scaccia about the significant challenges of accessing quality oncology care in rural areas and how socioeconomic factors impact treatment outcomes as well as the role of social and case workers and the importance of building supportive cancer survivor communities.
To see our full podcast collection and stay up to date with future seasons, visit https://www.kidneycancer.org/podcast/.