Fighting with Grace: Hamish Shallard's Journey Through Stage 4 Chromophobe Renal Cell Carcinoma
A Story of Resilience, Community, and the Fight for Treatment Access
We’re continuing our monthly series spotlighting individuals living with or beyond chromophobe renal cell carcinoma. Each month we’ll share one patient’s story, treatment path, challenges and reflections on life after cancer.
Our goal is to put real faces and voices to this rare diagnosis, both familiar names and new ones, and to foster deeper understanding, connection, and support within the community.
This month, please meet Hamish Shallard.
A Shock That Changed Everything
When you meet Hamish Shallard from Auckland, New Zealand, you're immediately struck by his energy, warmth, and fierce determination. Beneath his laid-back Kiwi charm is a man who has fought a relentless battle with chromophobe renal cell carcinoma (chRCC), a rare form of kidney cancer.
Hamish's story began in 2018 when he noticed blood in his urine, not just tinged, but shockingly red. "Let's just say the nurse was shocked when my blood test looked the same color as my urine," Hamish recalls. Within days, doctors discovered a 10cm tumor on his ruptured kidney, leading to his first radical nephrectomy.
When Hope Meets Reality
Initially stage 2 with a 90% chance of beating it, Hamish's cancer wasn't going to be straightforward. Despite multiple surgeries and treatments, his cancer progressed to Stage 4. "Going from 'You have a 90% chance' to 'We can't do anything more surgically,' that was the most gutting moment," he shares.
Hamish underwent four major operations before transitioning to systemic therapy, first Everolimus, then a combination with Lenvima that worked better, plus radiation therapy on three abdominal tumors.
The Power of Partnership and Self-Advocacy
Throughout this journey, his partner October "Tobi" Conway has been his constant strength. "She's been amazing. We've been together for 25 years now," Hamish says.
His advice to newly diagnosed patients is clear: "Don't panic and stay away from Google. Advocate for yourself. Listen to your body. Take it one day at a time." He emphasizes the importance of early oncologist access, which he initially lacked.
Fighting Side Effects and Finding Balance
The treatment's side effects (particularly tiredness and mouth ulcers) proved challenging, but Hamish found relief in CBD oil to help with his side effects. He's made significant lifestyle changes: cutting alcohol, avoiding processed foods, and embracing meditation, breathing exercises, and alternative therapies including work with a Māori healer.
Fighting More Than Cancer
Beyond physical symptoms, Hamish faces the emotional toll of seeing how cancer limits his family's activities. Despite having private insurance, medication costs aren't covered. "If I didn't have insurance, I'd be dead now," he says, highlighting a critical gap in healthcare accessibility.
The reality facing chromophobe patients in New Zealand is stark: there are no funded treatment options available. This unfunded medicine crisis means that families like Hamish's must self-fund their life-saving treatments or face the unthinkable. Without the financial means to access these medications, Hamish simply wouldn't be here today.
In this challenging landscape, the global chromophobe community has become a lifeline. Hamish and his family have been incredibly fortunate to connect with this supportive network, including connections and programs that have led to donations of a full month's worth of medication for him. The kindness, advice, and support from this community isn't just helpful, it's literally lifesaving.
Regular monitoring includes blood tests, urine tests, and 3-monthly CT scans, while Hamish continues exploring every avenue to support his health beyond the basic advice to "drink more water."
Gratitude and Wisdom
Through it all, Hamish remains deeply grateful. "The way I look at life has changed for the better. I see through different eyes now. I'm lucky to have such an awesome family and great friends."
His message is powerful: "Don't sweat the small stuff. Stand up for your rights. Love more. Treat every day as special."
A Call for Understanding
Hamish wants people to understand that cancer doesn't always show externally. "Just because we don't look sick doesn't mean we aren't," he says. He advocates for more research funding for chromophobe RCC: "There's just not enough funding. We need more support for the amazing work being done."
His story also serves as an urgent call to address the medication funding crisis that affects not just chromophobe patients, but countless New Zealanders fighting rare diseases. Access to life-saving treatments shouldn't depend on personal wealth or the generosity of strangers, though we're grateful it exists when the system fails.
For now, Hamish continues living with courage and purpose, still fighting, still loving, and reminding us all that every day is a gift.