Overcoming stage 4 kidney cancer with determination: A story from Central Florida

In Apopka, Florida, a man from Central Florida was diagnosed with stage four renal cell carcinoma. He is now sharing his journey and how he coped with the frightening diagnosis.

March is recognized as Kidney Cancer Awareness month. In 2024, the American Cancer Society projected that 81,610 new cases of kidney cancer, also referred to as renal cancer, would be diagnosed in the United States.

Michael Picard was diagnosed back in 2016 after he went to the doctor when he felt a slight pain in his groin while working out.

“My wife, Annette — who was instrumental in pushing me — said, ‘Get to a doctor now,’” Picard said.

The doctors found Michael’s hip was full of holes and cracks, which was causing the pain.

Describing his experience, the man mentioned, “The doctor exclaimed, ‘We need to take you to the operating room immediately – now! There is a substantial tumor on your kidney that must be removed right away before proceeding further.'”

The doctors removed Michael’s entire kidney but found the cancer had spread throughout his entire body.

“That’s when the words ‘cancer’ and ‘stage four’ hit me,” Picard said. “Hit close to home. He said, ‘Yeah it’s in your bones, it’s in your lungs, you have inflammation and there’s a tumor starting in your brain.’”

His doctor told him he was past the point of chemo, so they tried experimental drugs between surgeries. In total, Picard underwent eight surgeries including a hip replacement, kidney removal and pelvis reconstruction, but rather than letting it define him, Picard kept doing the things he loved, like working out.

“It was so much for my mental acuity to be able to focus on something other than cancer because that’s all that occupies your mind when you get those diagnoses,” Picard said. “When you hear that word, that’s all you think about. Day, night, dream, it doesn’t matter. But this gave me a chance to channel myself into something that’s positive. “

Michael is now in remission, spends several days a week in the gym and even gets in a few rounds of golf here and there.

He hopes his story will encourage others in his same situation to chart their own path.

“If I can save one person from sitting in a corner like I did for a little while and, you know, getting up, and not let it define you and do what you love to do — be it water ski, be it whatever you do — do it,” Picard said. “Don’t wallow in misery, just get out and live.”