Faith Through Kidney Cancer
- Texas meteorologist Diamond Dickson is battling a rare, aggressive kidney cancer after severe pain was initially mistaken for an infection.
- She’s now undergoing chemotherapy and preparing for surgery, crediting her faith and support system for helping her power through this arduous journey,
- In the early stages, kidney cancer may not cause noticeable symptoms. However, what a patient experiences can differ widely, but blood in the urine, Lower back pain on one side, and fatigue are known symptoms according to the National Cancer Institute.
- Though surgery is often the primary approach for treating kidney tumors, SurvivorNet experts say a range of treatment approaches exist based on the specifics of the diagnosis, including chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and immunotherapy.
- Dickson, turning to her faith, is very common among patients. A study published in Cancer includes data that found “69% of cancer patients reported praying for their health” compared to “only 45% of the general U.S. population.”
Dickson, a graduate of Louisiana State University, took to social media to share the news and urge others to push for answers when it comes to their health.
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After acknowledging how there is “technically no cure” for her disease, she shared that her faith in God keeps her grounded, viewing this cancer journey as a possible “life assignment.”
She continued, “I’m currently receiving chemotherapy to target my tumor in my left kidney and it has tested my body in unimaginable ways but I have no choice but to fight. Next will be kidney removal surgery to make sure the cancer doesn’t spread throughout my body.
“I have to beat it. Most days I’m completely depleted of energy but my faith keeps me going. I have a fighter spirit and I refuse to let this cancer take me out. I’m not done living in my purpose, therefore, in Jesus name, I’m already healed.”
Dickson, who was baptized in April 2023, also expressed gratitude for her steady support system, crediting them for standing by her through these recent challenges.
“This is a tough journey, an ugly one too, but I know God wouldn’t have me fighting this beast if he wasn’t going to do it with me. In Psalms 3:3, it says ‘But you, Lord, are a shield around me, my glory, the One who lifts my head high,'” she concluded.
“It is because of Him that I am made strong in my weakness.”
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For many people facing cancer, faith offers stability as they’re facing the challenges of treatment, side effects, and the physical and emotional toll that accompanies it.
Research published in Cancer shows that nearly 70% of patients pray for their health—far more than the general population.
Dickson’s diagnosis comes months after her December Instagram post, which offered her followers some insight into when he faith was “put to the ultimate test.”
“I was in the hospital for almost a week after going to different doctors for months being concerned with my kidneys and having intense flank pain. I still went to work, suppressing the pain, but put on a smile for the camera. Not the best idea,” she wrote alongside photos taken from the hospital.
After multiple ER visits and being admitted into the hospital, she explained further, “What I thought was a severe kidney infection, turned out not to be. Doctors here are calling me a rare/unicorn case because I’m healthy, eat well, and work out but I still have rare symptoms. I was barely walking on my own from how intense the pain was.”
Kidney cancer affects tens of thousands of Americans each year—an estimated 80,980 new cases were expected in 2025, according to the National Cancer Institute.
The disease can develop in both adults and children, and early symptoms are often subtle or absent. Common signs may include blood in the urine, fatigue, weight loss, persistent fever, and lower back pain on one side.
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Understanding Kidney Cancer
Kidney cancer develops when cells in the kidneys, a pair of bean-shaped organs each about the size of a fist, begin to grow out of control. Renal cell carcinoma is the most common type of kidney cancer. In fact, about 9 out of 10 kidney cancers are RCCs.
“The main types of kidney cancer are renal cell cancer, transitional cell cancer, and Wilms tumor,” the National Cancer Institute explains, noting that some “inherited conditions” may increase a person’s risk of getting the disease.
Luckily, advancement in kidney cancer treatment has proven effective for people battling the disease.
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The institute states, “NCI-funded researchers are working to advance our understanding of how to detect and treat kidney cancer. Much progress has been made over the last few decades, especially in identifying genes that can drive the development of kidney cancer.
“This knowledge has led to more effective treatments. Today, about 75% of people with kidney cancer will be alive 5 years after diagnosis.”
As for renal cell carcinoma (RCC), the disease, it “is the most common malignant tumor of the kidney and constitutes over 90 percent of all renal malignancies.”
Kidney Cancer Symptoms and Treatment
In the early stages, kidney cancer may not cause noticeable symptoms. However, what a patient experiences can differ widely depending on the tumor’s type, size, and location. Below are some potential symptoms and side effects that individuals with kidney cancer might encounter:
- Blood in the urine
- Lower back pain on one side
- Tiredness and fatigue
- Weight loss
- Reduced appetite
- Lumps or growths on the lower back or the side
- High temperature and fever that doesn’t seem to go away
- Anemia: low counts of red blood cells
According to UCLA Health, kidney cancer can metastasize, or spread, to any part of the body through the blood or lymphatic system. When that happens, the first signs of cancer may not be specific to your kidneys.
Symptoms of metastatic kidney cancer may cause symptoms in the newly affected areas of the body including:
- The lungs, causing cough and shortness of breath
- The bones, resulting in bone pain or fracture
- The brain, presenting as headaches, confusion or seizures
That being said, all of these signs don’t necessarily mean you have cancer. Still, you should always bring up any changes to your health with your doctors.
“Traditionally, kidney cancer was diagnosed in people coming in with blood in the urine, a mass (in the) belly that was big enough that you could feel, or pain on that side,” Dr. Geoffrey Sonn, a urologic oncologist with Stanford Hospital and Clinics, previously told SurvivorNet.
“More recently because of the great increase in the use of imaging with ultrasound, CAT scans, MRI most kidney cancers (are) diagnosed incidentally, meaning a scan is done for another reason,” he added.
Dr. Sonn said that doctors finding a mass seen on imaging done for another reason is “the most common presentation” of the disease. Some patients without symptoms might discover their cancer through scans done for unrelated reasons, and other might discover the cancer after a scan to investigate abdominal pain.
Either way, it’s important to stay up-to-date on check ups and speak with your doctors about any possible signs of something being wrong.
“For localized kidney cancer, for relatively small masses that have not metastasized, most often patients feel nothing, and this is found on a scan done for another reason,” he explained.
“For larger masses of the kidney they may have pain on that side, they may see blood in the urine or a routine urine test may show a microscopic amount of blood in the urine that’s not enough to be seen visually but still will prompt further testing with imaging that shows the kidney cancer.”
Surgery is often the primary approach for treating kidney tumors, with the goal of fully removing the cancer. However, this option is typically considered when the tumor is still localized—meaning it’s a manageable size and hasn’t spread (metastasized) to other parts of the body. There are several types of surgical procedures used to treat kidney cancer, including:
- Radical nephrectomy
- Partial nephrectomy
- Cytoreductive nephrectomy
- Laparoscopic and robotic surgery
- Mastectomy
Treatment Options for Kidney Cancer: What You Should Know
Kidney cancer can be treated through a range of approaches—each designed to target cancer cells in different ways. Your care team will help determine the best path forward based on your diagnosis, overall health, and personal preferences. Here’s a breakdown of key treatment options:
- Radiofrequency Ablation (RFA): This minimally invasive procedure uses a needle inserted directly into the tumor. Electric currents and radiofrequency waves heat and destroy the cancerous tissue from within.
- Cryoablation: In this technique, extremely cold probes are placed into the tumor to freeze and kill cancer cells. It’s often used for small tumors or patients who aren’t candidates for surgery.
- Chemotherapy: Chemotherapy uses powerful medications to stop cancer cells from growing, dividing, or surviving. While kidney cancer is often resistant to traditional chemotherapy, certain drugs may be used in specific cases or in combination with other therapies.
- Radiation Therapy: High-energy particles or waves are used to damage and destroy cancer cells. The two main types are:
- External Beam Radiation: Delivered from outside the body, targeting the tumor with precision.
- Internal Radiation (Brachytherapy): Places radioactive material directly inside or near the tumor.
- Immunotherapy: This innovative approach activates your immune system to better detect and attack cancer cells. Treatments like immune checkpoint inhibitors help the body overcome cancer’s defenses and mount a stronger response.
- Targeted Therapy: These drugs zero in on specific genes or proteins that fuel cancer growth. One notable example is belzutifan (Welireg), approved by the FDA in August 2021 for patients with Von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) disease-related kidney cancers. Belzutifan blocks a protein called HIF-2α, which normally supplies oxygen and nutrients to cancer cells—cutting off this pathway can shrink tumors significantly.
- Combination Therapy: In many cases, doctors may recommend a blend of treatments—such as immunotherapy paired with targeted therapy—to increase effectiveness and tailor care to your unique needs.
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The Immunotherapy Offering Kidney Cancer Patients Hope
The immunotherapy drug Keytruda is approved to treat some types of kidney cancer. Immunotherapy is a powerful cancer treatment option that uses the patient’s own immune cells to fight the cancer after a bit of reengineering in a lab. The drug’s approval stemmed from the KEYNOTE-564 trial.
“The goal (of the study) was to see if (the drug) can prevent kidney cancer coming back,” Dr. Toni Choueiri, director of the Lank Center for Genitourinary Oncology at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and lead author of the study, tells SurvivorNet. (The study itself was supported by pharmaceutical company Merck & Co. and conceived by Dr. Choueiri and some co-authors.)
Keytruda was approved for the adjuvant treatment (additional cancer treatment given after the primary treatment) of patients with renal cell carcinoma at an intermediate-high or high risk of recurrence following nephrectomy, or following nephrectomy and resection (removal) of metastatic lesions.
A Note on Side Effects and Shared Decision-Making
While these treatments offer hope, they can also come with side effects that impact your body and daily life. That’s why it’s essential to have open, honest conversations with your doctor. Together, you can weigh the risks and benefits, explore supportive care options, and choose a treatment plan that aligns with your values and goals.
What to Know About Von Hippel-Lindau Syndrome
According to the American Society of Clinical Oncology, Von Hippel-Lindau Syndrome (VHL) has been linked to the onset of many types of benign and malignant tumors, including a 60% risk of getting kidney cancer.
VHL is a rare genetic condition that happens as a result of VHL gene impairment (either gene deletion or mutation) and can cause several types of tumors to grow in different areas of the body. These tumors can be benign or malignant.
Using Faith as a Tool for Healing
A study published in Cancer highlights the powerful role of faith in the lives of cancer patients, revealing that 69% of those diagnosed with cancer reported praying for their health, compared to 45% of the general U.S. population.
Cancer psychologist Dr. Andrew Kneier helped co-author “Coping with Cancer: Ten Steps toward Emotional Well-Being.” He also co-authored a column published by Stanford Medicine with Rabbi Jeffery M. Silberman, director of spiritual care at Danbury Hospital in Connecticut.
Together, they emphasize the deep emotional and psychological support that faith provides to those battling illness.
According to Kneier and Silberman, spirituality offers a powerful coping mechanism, helping individuals navigate the uncertainty that comes with a cancer diagnosis.
“A person’s faith or spirituality provides a means for coping with illness and reaching a deeper kind of inner healing,” they explain.
Faith helps patients in multiple ways, including:
- Seeking answers to the difficult questions illness presents.
- Finding comfort in the midst of fear and pain.
- Gaining a sense of direction during an overwhelming and uncertain time.
Religious teachings, they argue, can serve as a guidepost, offering strength and resilience when navigating the emotional and physical challenges of cancer.
WATCH: Three-time cancer survivor shares how her faith helped her during cancer.
New York City Presbyterian Pastor Tom Evans tells SurvivorNet about the importance of finding ways to cope with the complex web of feelings you may be experiencing after a challenging health diagnosis, such as cancer.
“It’s important to reach out in a simple prayer to God, even if you’ve never prayed before, you don’t know what to say, a heartfelt plea, ‘God, help me, be with me,’” Pastor Evans told SurvivorNet.
“You can reach out to God, and you can reach out to people, your friends and family, and say, ‘I can’t do this on my own. I need you.’ “It’s in that willingness to be open and to receive that we can find something deeper that we never would’ve encountered without this hardship,” Evans continued
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Questions For Your Doctor
If you are faced with kidney cancer or you are caring for a loved one who is, here are some questions you can ask your care team to ensure you are getting the best treatment possible.
- What treatment options are available for my specific type and stage of kidney cancer, and how do they differ?
- What are the potential benefits and risks of each treatment, including surgery, targeted therapy, and immunotherapy?
- How will treatment affect my daily life?
- Are there clinical trials that might be appropriate for my situation?
- How will we monitor whether the treatment is working, and what are the next steps if it isn’t?
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Contributing: SurvivorNet Staff
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