‘80s Rock Star Mark Kendall, 68, Says His Early Warning Sign for Kidney Cancer Was an ‘Irregular Pee’ that ‘Wasn’t the Right Color’ Before His Diagnosis

“When this started, the tumor in my kidney was 13 centimeters,” he wrote.

“My first scan showed it dropped to 11. The second scan showed 8. I just had a CT scan two nights ago, and it’s now 5 centimeters with no sign of spread anywhere else. This is fantastic news that I’m managing the tumor, and the immunotherapy is working!”

Kendall helped launch Great White in 1977, and the band rose to prominence in the 1980s with hits like “Once Bitten, Twice Shy” and “House of Broken Love.” Their success earned them a GRAMMY nomination in 1989. He revealed his diagnosis publicly last November, telling fans he was determined to fight.

Kidney cancer is diagnosed in tens of thousands of Americans each year, with more than 81,000 new cases expected in 2025, according to the National Cancer Institute. Symptoms can be subtle or absent early on, but may include blood in the urine, fatigue, weight loss, persistent fever, or pain on one side of the lower back. Renal cell carcinoma is the most common form, making up about 80% of cases.

Kendall” told Blabbermouth.net that his first warning sign was “irregular pee,” including blood in his urine—something that encouraged him to go straight to the emergency room. Initially, he was told that a severe urinary tract infection could be the cause. But when the discoloration persisted, urgent care doctors raised the possibility of bladder cancer, which can cause similar symptoms.

WATCH: Treating Bladder Cancer With Immunotherapy

Bladder cancer begins when the cells lining the inside of the bladder start growing uncontrollably and form tumors. “Smoking is a leading risk factor,” with smokers being three times more likely to develop the disease than non-smokers.

Common symptoms of bladder cancer may include:

• Frequent urination
• Pain or burning during urination
• Flank pain (discomfort in the sides of the lower back)
• A sudden, urgent need to urinate
• Blood in the urine, which may appear pink, red, or cola-colored

WATCH: What Are the Risk Factors for Bladder Cancer

Further testing revealed the real issue. “When they did the ultrasound, they were hanging in my right kidney for a long time, so I figured something was wrong,” he recalled. “A couple of days later, I found out I had cancer in there, and it was 13 centimeters.”

Kendall is being treated with Keytruda (pembrolizumab), an immunotherapy used for several cancers. It works by helping the immune system recognize and attack cancer cells.

Keytruda blocks a protein called PD‑1, which normally helps cancer cells hide from the immune system. By shutting down that signal, the drug allows T‑cells to do their job.

Keytruda can be an effective immunotherapy, but in certain patients, it may cause severe immune-related adverse effects. Some might need something stronger (or lighter) depending on several factors, according to  Dr. Anna Pavlick, medical oncologist at Weill Cornell Medicine.

WATCH: Keytruda Is Not For Everyone, Immunotherapy Should Be Tailored

As with any medication, Keytruda may cause side effects. These vary based on whether you’re taking Keytruda alone or in combination with other drugs.

The most common side effects of Keytruda alone include:

• Fatigue
• Muscle/bone/joint pain
• Rash
• Diarrhea
• Cough
• Fever
• Changes in appetite
• Itching
• Shortness of breath
• Abdominal pain and/or nausea
• Low thyroid hormone

Kendall also takes Lenvima, a daily oral targeted therapy known as a tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI). TKIs are designed to exploit vulnerabilities in cancer cells while sparing healthy tissue.

“Every three weeks you get an infusion of Keytruda, and then you take these pills every day called Lenvima,” he explained. “It does something with your immune system, attacks the cancer, and all this.”

Despite the challenges, Kendall remains optimistic.

“What I have is manageable. People have had this for up to 20 years. So, you just keep fighting it. It’s kind of a pain—you’ve gotta go to the doctor every three weeks or whatever—but you get to live,” Kendall said.

Kidney Cancer Symptoms and Treatment

In the early stages, kidney cancer may not cause noticeable symptoms. However, what a patient experiences can differ widely depending on the tumor’s type, size, and location. Below are some potential symptoms and side effects that individuals with kidney cancer might encounter:

• Blood in the urine
• Lower back pain on one side
• Tiredness and fatigue
• Weight loss
• Reduced appetite
• Lumps or growths on the lower back or the side
• High temperature and fever that doesn’t seem to go away
• Anemia: low counts of red blood cells

Surgery is often the primary approach for treating kidney tumors, with the goal of fully removing the cancer. However, this option is typically considered when the tumor is still localized—meaning it’s a manageable size and hasn’t spread (metastasized) to other parts of the body. There are several types of surgical procedures used to treat kidney cancer, including:

• Radical nephrectomy
• Partial nephrectomy
• Cytoreductive nephrectomy
• Laparoscopic and robotic surgery
• Mastectomy

Treatment Options for Kidney Cancer: What You Should Know

Kidney cancer can be treated through a range of approaches—each designed to target cancer cells in different ways. Your care team will help determine the best path forward based on your diagnosis, overall health, and personal preferences. Here’s a breakdown of key treatment options:

• Radiofrequency Ablation (RFA): This minimally invasive procedure uses a needle inserted directly into the tumor. Electric currents and radiofrequency waves heat and destroy the cancerous tissue from within.
• Cryoablation: In this technique, extremely cold probes are placed into the tumor to freeze and kill cancer cells. It’s often used for small tumors or patients who aren’t candidates for surgery.
• Chemotherapy: Chemotherapy uses powerful medications to stop cancer cells from growing, dividing, or surviving. While kidney cancer is often resistant to traditional chemotherapy, certain drugs may be used in specific cases or in combination with other therapies.
• Radiation Therapy: High-energy particles or waves are used to damage and destroy cancer cells. The two main types are:
  • External Beam Radiation: Delivered from outside the body, targeting the tumor with precision.
  • Internal Radiation (Brachytherapy): Places radioactive material directly inside or near the tumor.
• Immunotherapy: This innovative approach activates your immune system to better detect and attack cancer cells. Treatments like immune checkpoint inhibitors help the body overcome cancer’s defenses and mount a stronger response.
• Targeted Therapy: These drugs zero in on specific genes or proteins that fuel cancer growth. One notable example is belzutifan (Welireg), approved by the FDA in August 2021 for patients with Von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) disease-related kidney cancers. Belzutifan blocks a protein called HIF-2α, which normally supplies oxygen and nutrients to cancer cells—cutting off this pathway can shrink tumors significantly.
• Combination Therapy: In many cases, doctors may recommend a blend of treatments—such as immunotherapy paired with targeted therapy—to increase effectiveness and tailor care to your unique needs.

WATCH: Immunotherapy Needs to be Tailored

The Immunotherapy Offering Kidney Cancer Patients Hope

The immunotherapy drug Keytruda is approved to treat some types of kidney cancer. Immunotherapy is a powerful cancer treatment option that uses the patient’s own immune cells to fight the cancer after a bit of reengineering in a lab. The drug’s approval stemmed from the KEYNOTE-564 trial.

“The goal (of the study) was to see if (the drug) can prevent kidney cancer coming back,” Dr. Toni Choueiri, director of the Lank Center for Genitourinary Oncology at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and lead author of the study, tells SurvivorNet. (The study itself was supported by pharmaceutical company Merck & Co. and conceived by Dr. Choueiri and some co-authors.)

Keytruda was approved for the adjuvant treatment (additional cancer treatment given after the primary treatment) of patients with renal cell carcinoma at an intermediate-high or high risk of recurrence following nephrectomy, or following nephrectomy and resection (removal) of metastatic lesions.

A Note on Side Effects and Shared Decision-Making

While these treatments offer hope, they can also come with side effects that impact your body and daily life. That’s why it’s essential to have open, honest conversations with your doctor. Together, you can weigh the risks and benefits, explore supportive care options, and choose a treatment plan that aligns with your values and goals.

What to Know About Von Hippel-Lindau Syndrome

According to the American Society of Clinical Oncology, Von Hippel-Lindau Syndrome (VHL) has been linked to the onset of many types of benign and malignant tumors, including a 60% risk of getting kidney cancer.

VHL is a rare genetic condition that happens as a result of VHL gene impairment (either gene deletion or mutation) and can cause several types of tumors to grow in different areas of the body. These tumors can be benign or malignant.

Questions For Your Doctor

If you are faced with kidney cancer or you are caring for a loved one who is, here are some questions you can ask your care team to ensure you are getting the best treatment possible.

• What treatment options are available for my specific type and stage of kidney cancer, and how do they differ?
• What are the potential benefits and risks of each treatment, including surgery, targeted therapy, and immunotherapy?
• How will treatment affect my daily life?
• Are there clinical trials that might be appropriate for my situation?
• How will we monitor whether the treatment is working, and what are the next steps if it isn’t?

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