Family Matters: Parenting and Grandparenting with Advanced Kidney Cancer

An advanced kidney cancer diagnosis affects more than just the patient. It touches the entire family. Our recent Town Hall invited patients and caregivers to learn from experienced peers.

This event has already taken place, but you can watch the full video here.

If you are interested in hearing about more events like this, make sure you’re subscribed to our newsletter.

Resource Links from Topics Mentioned in the Program

Here are additional links to resources for patients and caregivers, some of which were mentioned in the program and chat. 

Talking to Your Children and Family about Cancer

Living Well with Kidney Cancer

l

Register now for our next Community Social, to be held on Wednesday, May 13th. Called “First Steps: A KidneyCAN Community Social for Newly Diagnosed Patients & Caregivers,” this event is awelcoming space to connect, ask questions, and take your next steps with support.

KidneyCAN thanks all who participated in this special Town Hall event. Thank you as well to our patient and caregiver community for providing insights and resources in the chat and community social that followed the Town Hall.

Meet the Panelists

This Town Hall is interactive! Ask questions for the panelists when you register, and participate via chat during the webinar.
Dr. Rana McKay | Expert Panelist | Kidney Cancer Town Hall by KidneyCAN

DR. ADAM STERN

Moderator

Dr. Stern is a physician, writer, husband, and father who has been living with metastatic kidney cancer since 2018. His professional background spans academic psychiatry, patient care, scholarship, and pharmaceutical clinical development. Through his writing and advocacy, Adam shares his experiences as both a physician and patient, helping others navigate the emotional and practical challenges of living with cancer. He brings a thoughtful perspective to conversations about illness, family, and meaning. Adam lives with his family and finds his greatest sense of purpose in advocacy and in being a dad.

Dr. Rana McKay | Expert Panelist | Kidney Cancer Town Hall by KidneyCAN

CAROLYN SERRA

Panelist

Carolyn Serra was diagnosed with Stage IV kidney cancer in 2022. Originally from Canada, she moved to Atlanta to pursue a career in sports and has spent nearly 30 years with the Atlanta Braves organization. Carolyn currently serves as Senior Director of Ballpark Tours & Experiences, leading programs that give fans and visitors behind-the-scenes access to the ballpark and its history. She lives in Peachtree City, Georgia, with her husband, Glen, and they are the proud parents of two daughters who are pursuing careers in the medical field. Carolyn enjoys planning trips and traveling with her family.

Archana Ajmera, NP | Expert Panelist | Kidney Cancer Town Hall by KidneyCAN

RYAN STEADMAN

Panelist

Ryan Steadman is a kidney cancer survivor who was diagnosed with ccRCC in 2022. After undergoing a radical nephrectomy and additional treatment when the cancer later spread to his psoas muscle, Ryan is now more than three years from his diagnosis with encouraging scan results. A trained pharmacist and healthcare leader, he uses his medical background to stay informed and engaged in his care. Ryan has become active in kidney cancer advocacy, including participating in national advocacy efforts and serving as a consumer reviewer for kidney cancer research grants. He lives in Ohio with his wife and three sons.

Archana Ajmera, NP | Expert Panelist | Kidney Cancer Town Hall by KidneyCAN

MERYL URANGA

Panelist

Meryl Uranga is a proud nearly nine-year kidney cancer survivor. She spent the first decade of her career as a radio personality and DJ before working for 30 years in telecommunications project management. Since retiring in 2019, Meryl has focused on patient advocacy and accelerating cures for kidney cancer. She serves as a Community Liaison with KidneyCAN, where she is active in legislative advocacy, community outreach, and media engagement, and leads advocacy efforts in the Southeast. Meryl is passionate about ensuring that the patient voice is heard and that progress continues toward better treatments and outcomes.

An informed patient is an empowered patient.

We at KidneyCAN know how challenging it can be to keep up with research developments and how they could impact your treatment options. We hope the ideas presented in our Town Hall help you as you work with your doctor to manage your care for kidney cancer.

If you’re looking to connect with more people who share your challenges and can offer support, check out our Smart Patients forum.

This event supported by:

For Patients

Advocacy

Research

Join Our Grassroots Army

We know that awareness of kidney cancer and its impact on many lives leads to a sense of urgency, a desire for solutions. Awareness leads to advocacy, and advocacy — joining to speak as one voice — leads to funding and research. That’s how we get to cures.

This error message is only visible to WordPress admins

Error: No connected account.

Please go to the Instagram Feed settings page to connect an account.