How do I advocate for RCC treatment when doctors seem to give up?

Feeling dismissed by your medical team during such a critical time is incredibly frustrating and understandable. Many community members have found success by seeking second opinions at comprehensive cancer centers, asking for referrals to oncologists who specialize in kidney cancer, or contacting patient advocacy services at hospitals to help navigate the system. The community here often shares experiences with different approaches and can offer valuable support as you work to get the care you deserve.

Dear Kelly R — Wow! Your frustration so much reflects my now 3-year journey through the hell of American cancer care. You can read my story below that I posted 8 days before you…but my purpose here is to tell you that on 1/1/2026 I resolved to escape the medical-industrial system and jumped to concierge medicine in order to get authorization for testosterone therapy I clearly needed but was denied by ossified conventional medicine. I have to pay full freight out of pocket, but favorable change emerged in only 7 weeks, after 22 months of complete failure to recover from excessive initial treatment. I have ongoing impaired sexual, urinary, and bowel function, but for the first time since 2023 diagnosis my quality of life has climbed above zero.