Stage 4 kidney cancer survivor thankful he chose UT MD Anderson
Roberto Gonzalez was diagnosed with stage 2 renal cell carcinoma in September 2020. He had a radical nephrectomy to remove his left kidney. For the next few years, scans showed no evidence of disease.
Then, in early 2025, Roberto went to the emergency room for chest pains. A CT scan showed suspicious findings. A second CT scan revealed tumors in the lymph nodes near his chest and left lung. Then he had a biopsy.
“The...
Kidney cancer specialists: 3 things to know about renal cell carcinoma (RCC)
Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is the scientific name for kidney cancer. Clear cell renal cell carcinoma accounts for about 75% of all new kidney...
Which blood tests show cancer?
PSA tests can detect elevated levels of prostate-specific antigen in the blood, which are sometimes a sign of prostate cancer. And complete...
Mom's legacy lives on through fundraising for UT MD Anderson
Last updated March 19, 2026
Alex Heard’s mom, Kelli, was his best friend.
“When I was younger, I would lie on her and watch TV,” he recalls. “She always wanted to hear my stories and give me advice.”
Unfortunately, Kelli was diagnosed with an advanced kidney cancer called clear cell renal cell carcinoma in October 2018. And, after undergoing immunotherapy and chemotherapy, and participating in clinical trials, she...
4 things to know about kidney biopsies
At MD Anderson, our dedicated interventional radiologists perform around 500 kidney biopsies a year. Nearly all of them are guided by advanced...
Blood in urine (hematuria): What causes it and what to do about it
It can be scary to see blood in your urine. While there is cause for concern, you shouldn’t panic. There can be many reasons for blood in...
Understanding kidney pain: Common causes, symptoms and when to get checked out
Kidney cancers don’t generally cause pain in patients before diagnosis. That’s because the most common types of kidney cancer tend to grow...
Renal medullary carcinoma: 5 things to know about this rare and aggressive kidney cancer
Renal medullary carcinoma (RMC) is a rare and extremely aggressive kidney cancer. In the United States, it is diagnosed most frequently among...
Renal medullary carcinoma, sickle cell trait and high-intensity exercise: What’s the connection?
Very few people will be diagnosed with renal medullary carcinoma this year. But of those who are, about 60% will be young Black men who carry...
Innovative cancer treatment saves renal medullary carcinoma patient and her pregnancy
Every cancer patient’s situation is unique. But Heather Williams’ was exceptional.
The ER nurse from North Carolina was only...