There are many reliable resources available to patients with kidney cancer, as well as their families and caregivers, which allow them to stay up-to-date with timely data and other information, according to Bryan Lewis, CEO and co-founder of KidneyCAN.

KidneyCAN is a patient-founded and patient-led organization; it is driven by individuals across the United States and worldwide affected by kidney cancer. The mission of KidneyCAN is to speed up the development of cures by advocating for funding, supporting research financially, educating patients and caregivers and connecting them with clinical trials and treatments.

As a community voice, KidneyCAN aims to promote equitable and inclusive efforts toward accelerating kidney cancer cures.

At the 2025 Kidney Cancer Research Summit, Lewis sat down for an interview with CURE to provide insights into how patients with kidney cancer and their caregivers can stay informed and get involved with cancer research.

Transcript

How can patients stay informed and get involved in pushing research forward?

Yeah, there are a couple of ways that patients can stay informed and get involved in pushing research forward. One way is through the online kidney cancer community called “Smart Patients.” It is a closed community, so you have to qualify to join. It is a wonderful resource for kidney cancer patients to learn more behind the scenes without feeling pressured. It's a closed community with a lot of open dialogue on a wide range of topics.

There are also many other resources available. Once you start looking, you will find that organizations like the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN), National Institutes of Health (NIH), and the American Cancer Society all have extensive resources that you can use to educate yourself. Many of these resources include patient-friendly versions of research and other documents.

Additionally, we would, of course, love for you to join us at KidneyCAN and become part of our grassroots army that goes to Washington to make our voices heard.

Reference

1. "Who We Are," by KidneyCAN. https://kidneycan.org/who-we-are/

Transcript has been edited for clarity and conciseness.

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