Cured or Consumed? How Kidney Cancer Patients Experience Survival

A recent presentation at the 2025 International Kidney Cancer Symposium highlighted a critical yet often overlooked aspect of kidney cancer care: the difference between patients who feel “cured” and those who are “consumed” by their disease, revealing that while most patients with localized kidney cancer have high cancer-specific survival (up to 95% for stage 1), surveys show a striking gap between doctor and patient perceptions of cure, with many patients unsure of their long-term outlook despite favorable statistics.

The discussion, led by Dena Battle, the co-founder and President of KCCure, highlighted that while many patients with kidney cancer, particularly those with localized disease, have excellent survival rates, their personal experiences of the disease vary dramatically. Some patients live largely free of the physical, emotional, and medical burdens of cancer, while others face constant disruption and distress.

“Even though more than a quarter of patients think that no metastatic patients can be cured, over 50% believe that some of these patients can be cured,” Battle noted, highlighting both the hope and uncertainty surrounding the term “cure.” This distinction is crucial, as it directly affects patients’ daily experiences, stress levels, and quality of life.

The Gap Between Survival and Experience in Kidney Cancer

The presentation emphasized the concept of being “consumed” versus “cured.” Consumed patients experience significant existential anxiety, consistent emotional distress, and daily physical disruptions. They often spend hours thinking about their cancer, require frequent medical appointments, and feel the disease impacts nearly every aspect of their life. In contrast, patients who describe themselves as cured are rarely preoccupied with their cancer, infrequently attend medical appointments, and report minimal daily physical disruption.

“Cured patients are not concerned about dying from kidney cancer. They rarely or never have to go to medical appointments,” Battle explained.

Survey data illustrated the relationship between patient perception and medical messaging. Among patients with localized disease, only 27% reported being told by their doctor that they were cured. In metastatic settings, the number drops dramatically: only 1% of patients were told they were cured, while 41% were informed their disease was incurable or terminal. When patients were asked how they personally described their cancer, only 32% of localized patients and 2% of metastatic patients identified as cured.

Consumed vs. Cured: What Patients with Kidney Cancer Really Feel

The survey also found that patients who felt cured reported lower stress levels and spent less time thinking about cancer than other patients. One participant noted, “My doctor has never used the word cure, because ‘never say never,’ and I think that is correct, but I feel cured.”

Physicians’ hesitancy to use the word “cure” is driven largely by uncertainty about long-term outcomes. The survey found that 75% of doctors expressed caution in using the term, citing concerns about variable interpretations, complexity of medical information, and patients’ emotional reactions. In fact, a substantial proportion of urologists and medical oncologists indicated they would never label certain stages of disease as cured, especially in metastatic cases. Yet, the presentation highlighted that this caution may inadvertently place an unnecessary emotional burden on patients who are likely cured.

The Power of Words: Why ‘Cure’ Matters in Kidney Cancer

The presentation also examined the characteristics of patients who do consider themselves cured. Among the 15% of survey respondents who identified this way, the majority had stage 1 disease, but a notable portion included patients with stage 2 through 4 disease. These patients were slightly older but did not differ significantly in gender from the broader patient group. They were four times more likely to have been told by a doctor that they were cured and reported lower distress levels, better self-rated health, and reduced daily focus on cancer.

“Doing so might be placing an unnecessary burden on a large percentage of patients who are cured,” the speaker noted, emphasizing the potential benefit of clear, compassionate communication about cure.

Looking ahead, Battle underscored the importance of integrating discussions about cure into clinical practice. The reluctance to use the term can impede patient reassurance and the establishment of treatment objectives. Through thoughtful communication and attention to patient experiences, clinicians can help those living with kidney cancer feel recognized in their progress, whether they fall on the cured or consumed end of the spectrum.

The final takeaway from the presentation was clear, she emphasized, reiterating, “Let’s say cure.” By doing so, healthcare providers can support patients in reclaiming a sense of normalcy, and better aligning care with both medical outcomes and lived experience.

Reference

1. “Cured Versus Consumed,” by Dena Battle. Presented at: 2025 International Kidney Cancer Symposium; Nov. 13-15, 2025; Denver, Colorado.

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