Bret Benack Bret Benack

Welcome to our CaringBridge website. We are using it to keep family and friends updated in one place. We appreciate your support and words of hope and encouragement. Thank you for visiting.


Several weeks ago, scans revealed that Bret has Renal Cell Carcinoma (Kidney Cancer).  While scary, further images have indicated that the cancer is encapsulated and can be surgically resected. Bret's surgery (radical nephrectomy)is scheduled for Monday, May 15th at Mount Carmel West Hospital. Unfortunately, Bret will lose his right kidney, however there is no reason he can't live well with just the one. We are confident in our surgical team and feel fortunate that we are able to address the cancer in such a definitive way. Though we are certainly anxious for Monday to come, the wait has allowed us time to process this change and we feel well informed, well supported, well loved, and definitely ready to move forward.  We expect that the surgery will completely remove the tumor and there will be no evidence of residual disease. We will use this site as a way to update you all and assure you that all is well, as we know it will be. Thank you for the support and please feel free to pass the link along to anyone who would appreciate the information.   Although we are not using this website to raise any funds for ourselves, Caring Bridge is a worthy non-profit site that provides a way for people to do so if they choose.