Double Vision on Commute Leads to Stage 4 Kidney Cancer Diagnosis
Joe Gillette noticed double vision during his drive, prompting scans that revealed stage 4 kidney cancer with multiple metastases.
While commuting, Joe Gillette saw double in one eye and, suspecting a post-COVID effect, sought medical advice that led to an eye exam and brain scan. The imaging revealed a kidney tumor with metastases to his brain, lungs, bones, lymph nodes and pancreas, confirming stage 4 kidney cancer. Oncologist Dr. Martin Voss at Memorial Sloan Kettering initiated immunotherapy, radiation and a complex brain operation that required a ten-week medically induced coma.
After waking, Gillette underwent rehabilitation, additional radiation, and two years of immunotherapy with minimal side effects. In April 2024 he had surgery to remove the primary kidney tumor, recovered quickly, and now takes daily oral immunotherapy while receiving regular MRIs and endoscopies. He continues to volunteer with the American Cancer Society and focuses on family milestones, grateful for the treatment advances that have kept his cancer in check.
