John L. - Lecanto, FL

Rescuing the rescuer.

John needed a routine physical. All firefighters do. It's an insurance thing. No problem. But wait, there was something. A tumor on his kidney. Right there on the CT Scan. And it had to come out.

How could kidney cancer strike someone so young, vibrant and active? He was used to rescuing people, not fighting for his own life. Last year alone, more than 50,000 Americans received the same diagnosis John got, and can benefit from recent advances in kidney cancer diagnosis, surgical procedures and treatment options.

It was an improved, more detailed physical exam that detected his tumor early – so early, in fact, John wouldn’t need chemotherapy or radiation. Just surgery. At Seven Rivers Regional Medical Center.

That was back in March. In April, after eight weeks of recuperation, he returned to work. He's back at The Villages Public Safety Department, not quite at full force yet, but certainly on his way. He says it felt great to be back on the job and suit up again.

"Now I can answer the next call without worrying about my health," he said. "My life was saved, and I'm grateful to be back to saving others."