Female Speaker: Judy and Russ Norris live in Fallbrook, California, and have been married for 43 years. They stay active and enjoy life by riding bikes and spending time with family.
Judy Norris: Grandchildren, grandchildren are the light of my life. I have five grandchildren ranging from the ages of 12 to 3.
Female Speaker: 10 years ago, Judy began her journey with Kidney Cancer. The diagnosis was as unexpected as her symptoms.
Judy Norris: You know I was feeling great and then I noticed one evening I went to the bathroom and I passed a large clot, a blood clot. And I knew something was wrong right then.
Female Speaker: Kidneys are bean-shaped organs about the size of a small fist. They are located above the waist on either side of the spine. Shielded and protected by the lower rib cage, they play a key role in the body's waste disposal system.
Dr. Michael Atkins: What doctors do is when a kidney cancer presents, they proceed and do a radiograph and prove that it is abnormal and then they clinically stage the patient by doing a careful history, physical examination, screening blood test and determine whether or not this person is likely to have localized or metastatic renal cell carcinoma.
Female Speaker: Metastastic renal cell carcinoma means the cancer that began in the kidney has spread to another part of the body. Localized cancer means the tumor is only found inside the kidney. Wherever the cancer exists getting the best treatment is the next part of the journey.
Dr. Mark Soloway: The goal of treatment for a kidney tumor is first if possible to remove the cancer. A nephrectomy simply means removing the kidney. A total nephrectomy is removing the entire kidney. A partial nephrectomy is just that we remove part of the kidney obviously the part of the kidney where the cancer is.
Female Speaker: For Judy and Russ Norris, Judy's kidney cancer treatment has been a long journey. She had her diseased kidney removed, and all seemed well. But after 5 years of being cancer free, the cancer came back.
Judy Norris: It was a total surprise once again. I mean I had no aches and pains. I was living as retired and I was living the good life. And all of a sudden wham.
Female Speaker: Because Judy's cancer had recurred and spread. Her options for treatment were limited.
Dr. Mark Soloway: If there's tumors somewhere else in the body then obviously that has to be treated either with intravenous or oral medication attacking the cancer as specific as possible.
Female Speaker: Judy participated in a clinical trial, of an experimental medication design to kill the tumors blood supply.
Dr. Michael Atkins: In order for a cancer to grow it has to have a blood supply.
Female Speaker: The treatment worked wonders for Judy, who today looks forward to many more years as a grandma.
Female Speaker 2: My grand mother is a great role model. She has fought too many dangerous things and never once even thought of giving in.
Judy Norris: When I would see them and know that I want to be there when they graduate, when they walk, take their first steps that I want to be there and I want to be an active grandma.
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