In this inspirational episode of the Believe in Progress Podcast, host Mitch Stoller, Chief Philanthropic Officer at the American Association for Cancer Research, sits down with Katie Coleman, a software engineer, podcaster, author, and stage 4 kidney cancer survivor, alongside Dr. Pavlos Msaouel, a physician-scientist who specializes in rare kidney cancers. Katie and Dr. Msaouel each share their personal journeys and delve into their pioneering work in the fight against cancer. Katie’s advocacy and Dr. Msaouel’s research highlight the power of collaboration, community, and groundbreaking science in driving progress for patients.

Episode Highlights:

- Katie’s Journey from Diagnosis to Advocacy: Diagnosed with an ultra-rare kidney cancer in 2020, Katie shares her story of resilience and her transformative journey into patient advocacy.

- Dr. Msaouel’s Research on Rare Kidney Cancers: Dr. Msaouel discusses the advancements in his research on renal medullary carcinoma (RMC) and his dedication to developing new therapeutic strategies through clinical trials.

- The Chromophobe and Oncocytic Tumor Alliance: Katie discusses her work in founding the Chromophobe and Oncocytic Tumor Alliance and its mission to support patients with similar diagnoses.

- Collaborative Advocacy Efforts: Katie and Dr. Msaouel talk about the impact of their collaboration, the importance of patient involvement in research, and how these efforts drive progress.

- Future Goals and Innovations: Katie shares her vision for the future of her advocacy work, including her newly authored memoir, and Dr. Msaouel highlights upcoming research and trials in kidney cancer treatment.

Guest Bios and Episode Links:

Katie Coleman is a software engineer, author, podcaster, and cancer advocate. After her diagnosis, she founded the Chromophobe and Oncocytic Tumor Alliance and joined the Rare Cancer Research Foundation to support rare cancer patients. Katie is also the author of Too Young For Cancer, a memoir documenting her journey.

Visit Katie's Website: katiekickscancer.com

Pre-order Katie’s memoir: katiekickscancer.com/memoir

Order signed copies of her memoir: https://www.bookpeople.com/pre-order/campaign/too-young-cancer

Dr. Pavlos Msaouel is a physician-scientist with a focus on rare kidney cancers, particularly renal medullary carcinoma. His research has led to significant advancements in understanding and treating these rare cancers, with a strong emphasis on patient-centered clinical trials.

To Our Listeners:

Thank you for tuning into this episode of the Believe in Progress podcast with Katie Coleman and Dr. Pavlos Msaouel. Their dedication and collaboration underscore the power of patient advocacy and innovative research in transforming cancer care.

Your support makes a difference in the fight against cancer. Consider subscribing to our podcast, sharing this episode, and visiting AACR.org to learn how you can contribute to lifesaving cancer research. Every action, including donations, helps drive progress. You can make a gift to support advances in cancer science and medicine at AACR.org/donate.

Subscribe to our podcast for more powerful stories and episodes that highlight resilience, advocacy, and cutting-edge research in the journey to beat cancer. Together, we are making a difference.

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This episode is produced by CollegeCast LLC.