"Initially, we'll be working with physicians based in Vancouver to develop a feature-rich website for Canadian patients," said KCA president Bill Bro. "Those living in Canada face special challenges in obtaining the best care for this rare and deadly cancer," he added.

Plans are in development for interactive resources aimed at helping patients living in Canada to learn more about the most effective treatments for kidney cancer that has spread beyond the kidney capsule. Surgery alone is often effective in curing this cancer, provided it has not spread elsewhere in the body.

The KCA will soon announce support and education meetings for patients living in British Columbia, with similar events planned for other provinces in early 2008. Details will be announced on CureKidneyCancer.ca.

Jennifer Knox, MD, FRCPC, of Princess Margaret Hospital, in Toronto, recently joined the KCA's board of medical advisors. This group includes more than 40 leading physicians, nurses, and researchers from North America, Europe, Asia, and Australia.

"We are grateful to the pharmaceutical firms Bayer, Pfizer, and Wyeth, among others, who have provided us with the necessary financial resources to begin providing meaningful assistance to people throughout Canada," Bro said.

A series of podcasts featuring Canadian kidney cancer experts is planned and details will be posted on www.CureKidneyCancer.ca, sometime in early December. Special audio programs for Canadian patients will be available on Live365.com within two months.