Over the last 11 years, Katy Tucker has endured a nephrectomy, Gamma Knife® radiosurgery and six chemotherapy drugs. And though the 71-year-old’s kidney cancer treatment continues, she remains as upbeat as ever.

“I’m blessed. I know I’m blessed,” she says.

A stage IV kidney cancer diagnosis

Katy was getting ready to run a half-marathon at age 60 when she woke up one morning in January 2006 with a sharp pain on her...