Rare kidney cancer alters everyday life for mum of four, leads to major surgery and a new health-focused brand

A fit, 34-year-old mother of four from Geraldton, Western Australia, was diagnosed Christmas Eve 2024 with chromophobe renal cell carcinoma, a rare form of kidney cancer, after a routine blood test flagged unusual kidney function. The tumor measured about 17 centimeters and had grown outside the kidney but remained encapsulated, doctors said. Chromophobe renal cell carcinoma is uncommon and, crucially, there is no universal standard treatment; when it spreads, chemotherapy and radiation are often ineffective, leaving surgery as the primary option to remove cancerous tissue and protect organ function.

“At first they told me not to worry,” Jade Payne recalled of the moment doctors alerted her to the abnormal results. “I wasn’t expecting this at all.” The doctors warned the mass was large enough that Jade might lose her kidney, and possibly her spleen and part of her pancreas, depending on how the cancer behaved during surgery.

The diagnosis came after a period in which Jade, a devoted CrossFitter with four children aged preteen to early school-age, had been living what she described as a near-spotless health routine. She had traveled with her mother to Antarctica for a once-in-a-lifetime trip, seeking normalcy and renewal, before returning for a follow-up ultrasound that would change everything.

On January 18, 2025, Jade underwent a complex operation: surgeons successfully removed her left kidney and the tumor, sparing both her spleen and pancreas. She later described the moment as a mixture of relief and disbelief: “The doctors just can't explain it. I don't smoke, I don't drink, I trained six days a week. I don't tick any of the boxes for kidney cancer.” The family was stunned by the surgeon’s success, given how large the tumor had grown and the potential scope of surgery.

In the weeks following the operation, Jade learned that the disease’s impact would extend beyond the tumor itself. One kidney remaining on the left side has since progressed to chronic kidney disease stage 3, and she has had to scale back her once-intense fitness routine. “It’s been such an adjustment. I went from pushing my body to its limits every day to doing Pilates, being careful about water intake, avoiding dehydration,” she said.

The upheaval extended into family life. The four children—aged 13, 11, 9, and 6—had already faced the loss of their grandfather to leukemia two years earlier. Jade and her husband balanced the need for honesty with the desire to preserve Christmas and childhood wonder in the wake of a life-changing diagnosis. “Not telling them was probably the hardest thing I’ve ever done,” she recalled. “But how do you sit your children down on Christmas and say, ‘Mum has cancer’ when you can't even answer their questions?”

Beyond the immediate medical implications, Jade began reevaluating the everyday products that touch her family. When doctors could not provide a reason for her cancer, she started researching potential environmental factors and toxins in daily life. She noticed that activewear fabrics containing nylon and polyester are essentially plastic, and she extended that concern to cleaning products, cookware, and bedding. The experience inspired her to pursue a new mission: designing toxin-free, size-inclusive activewear.

That mission matured into Wild Body, a brand Jade developed during recovery. The line, planned to launch later this year, emphasizes organic cotton and sustainable materials, with practical, inclusive design features like squat-proof leggings and compostable packaging. The project has given Jade a renewed sense of purpose as she navigates ongoing medical checks and the uncertainties of cancer surveillance.

Every six months, Jade undergoes scans and blood tests to monitor for cancer recurrence. If the disease returns, the plan remains surgically focused—an option she considers with tempered resolve. “It’s just a waiting game,” she said. “If something grows back, they’ll cut it out. That’s my future. I’m 34 and already living with chronic kidney disease. But I want to see my kids grow up. I want to live.”

The family’s previous life included selling their home and spending seven months traveling around Australia in a caravan, creating memories before a crisis that would reshape their days. Jade’s mother has endured her own grief, still mourning the husband she lost and offering support as Jade faces the chance of another major operation in the future. Her husband, who rarely shows emotion, broke down when they learned the diagnosis, saying simply, “It doesn’t make sense. You’re the healthy one.”

Despite the gravity of the situation, Jade remains grateful for the chance to be with her children and to pursue a new professional path. “Knowing I’ve ticked off so much of my bucket list with my kids gave me comfort heading into surgery. If something went wrong, at least I’d lived that dream with my kids,” she said. Her current goal is straightforward: stay present for her family, nurture her remaining kidney as best she can, and continue to fight for a future she hopes will include many more years with her children.

In reflecting on her journey, Jade emphasizes gratitude and resilience. “I can’t control what happens, but I can do everything in my power to fight for that future,” she said. As Wild Body moves toward its launch, she hopes the brand will challenge industry norms and empower other families to pursue healthier, more sustainable choices while navigating the realities of life after a cancer diagnosis.