Joe Gillette, a 57-year-old New York resident, discovered he had Stage IV kidney cancer after experiencing double vision during his morning commute. The symptom, initially dismissed as a possible side effect of COVID-19, prompted a visit to his doctor, who referred him to an eye specialist. The specialist identified nerve damage in Gillette's right eye, but Gillette opted for additional scans due to his background volunteering with the American Cancer Society.
On his birthday, Gillette received a notification on his patient portal indicating tumors in his kidney, lung, brain, and stomach. Further scans confirmed Stage IV kidney cancer with metastases in his bones, lymph nodes, lungs, and pancreas. Despite the severity of his condition, Gillette had no symptoms prior to the double vision.
Gillette's oncologist, Dr. Martin Voss of Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, described his condition as dire, with less than 20% of Stage IV kidney cancer patients surviving five years, according to the American Cancer Society. Gillette underwent aggressive treatment, including immunotherapy and radiation, followed by weeks of recovery.
Gillette emphasized the importance of early detection, stating that without the COVID-related eye issue, his condition might have worsened significantly over the next six months.