187: Andrew Allers survived kidney cancer | yervoy | opdivo | IVIG | prednisone | nephrectomy | vena cava

In 2015, Andrew Allers was hit and fell while competing in a soccer match.  He immediately sought medical attention. and a CT scan revealed a baseball-sized tumor on one of his kidneys, which led to a diagnosis of Stage III renal cell carcinoma, or, kidney cancer.  A radical open-assisted nephrectomy removed the entire cancerous kidney.  Andrew thought he was in the clear, but in 2019, he was diagnosed with Stage IV kidney cancer.  Not only that, but the cancer had spread to his bones and his brain.  However, all of the above was successfully treated with an immunotherapy regimen, including ipilimumab and nivolumab.  Physically, Andrew considers his health at about 65 percent of what it was pre-diagnosis, but his cognitive skills are just as sharp as ever.   Andrew Allers led an active lifestyle in 2015.  From suburban Connecticut, he commuted to his job on Wall Street, but still found the time and energy to compete in an over-40 soccer league.  It was during a match that he took a hit, fell on his side.  Not only did he think he had broken a rib, but there was blood in his urine.  He went to the emergency department.  A CT scan was ordered, and it revealed a baseball-sized mass on his kidney.  Andrew was referred to a urologist, who checked out the scan and told Andrew he had Stage III kidney cancer.   A radical open-assisted nephrectomy was performed to successfully remove the cancerous kidney.  However, just two years later while playing tennis, he felt a pain in his back.  A biopsy was performed and Stage IV kidney cancer was indicated.  In addition, Andrew underwent a bone scan which revealed a tumor in his left hip socket.  It was radiated immediately, but to be safe, he was put on an immunotherapy regimen with two agents, ipilimumab and nivolumab.  Side effects included a full body rash and muscle aches making it difficult to make up and down stairs.  The immunotherapy was supplemented with a rheumatological drug, IVIG, or intravenous immunoglobin.  A few months later, his tumors had shrunk measurably.    There was yet another issue for Andrew.  He experienced problems with his left field of vision, and underwent a CT scan, which he had a pair of brain tumors.  For that he underwent a successful surgical procedure in May 2020.    These days from a physical perspective, Andrew Allers says his health is about 65 percent of what it was before his soccer accident. His biggest setback is that he can no longer run. He says his cognitive skills have not suffered and that his mental health is better than ever.   Additional Resources:   Support Group:   The Kidney Cancer Association  https://www.kidneycancer.org   Patients Stories Andrew has written for The Kidney Cancer Association:   https://www.kidneycancer.org/andrew-allers/   https://www.kidneycancer.org/andrew-allers-plan/