The Korea Kidney Cancer Association (KKCA), represented by Jin-Young Paik, has announced that the International Kidney Cancer Coalition (IKCC) conference is slated to take place at the Harbor Park Hotel in Incheon, South Korea from April 14th to 16th, 2024. This marks the inaugural occurrence of the IKCC International Conference in Korea, rendering it a premier event in both Asia and Korea.

Established in the Netherlands in December 2014, the International Kidney Cancer Coalition (IKCC) functions as a global alliance for kidney cancer patients. Its primary focus lies in enhancing the quality of life for kidney cancer patients worldwide by fostering a network among kidney cancer patient groups globally. IKCC facilitates the exchange of education, resources, knowledge, and experiences while also supporting the establishment of organizations in countries lacking kidney cancer patient groups.

The IKCC 2024 event is designed to encompass various programs, including educational sessions on kidney cancer disease and treatment perspectives, disseminating accurate perceptions of kidney cancer, and nurturing emotional support through dialogue among participants.

Scheduled for April 14th, the first day of the event will feature case studies and discussion sessions centered around the theme of "Enhancing Communication between Patients and Healthcare Professionals." On April 15th, panel discussions will focus on "Advocacy Hot Topics" and "Kidney Cancer Clinical Hot Topics." The conference will conclude on April 16th with panel discussions addressing "Improving Quality of Life through Palliative Care" and "Building Support: Communication with Family and Friends."

This year's event is expected to draw participants from kidney cancer patient groups worldwide, including the United States, Canada, Australia, the United Kingdom, Poland, and India. Notable South Korean speakers confirmed for the event include Professor Yong-Jin Kwon from Seoul National University's Public Health Center, Professor In-Geun Park from Seoul Asan Medical Center's Oncology Department, Professor Seok-Soo Byun from Bundang Seoul National University Hospital's Urology Department, Professor Eun-Seung Yu from Korea Cyber University's Counseling Psychology Department, Professor So-Hi Kwon from Kyungpook National University's Nursing Department, and Jin-Young Paik, the representative of the KKCA. They are preparing lectures and panel discussions to contribute to the successful organization of the IKCC event.

The inaugural IKCC International Conference was held in Frankfurt, Germany in 2010. Since the 7th conference in Warsaw, Poland in 2017, the KKCA has been participating annually. Additionally, they have been presenting at these conferences on the kidney cancer treatment landscape in South Korea, including the conference held in Buenos Aires, Argentina in 2023.

Jin-Young Paik, president of the KKCA, emphasized, "The significance of IKCC being held for the first time in Asia and Korea cannot be overstated. This conference will provide a valuable opportunity for discussion and information sharing on various topics of interest to patients and caregivers worldwide, including accurate information and the latest treatment perspectives on kidney cancer." She further added, "We hope that this inaugural international patient group event in Korea will pave the way for future IKCC conferences in Asia. The KKCA will continue to collaborate with various stakeholders and engage in diverse activities to be a steadfast supporter for kidney cancer (renal cell carcinoma and renal pelvic tumor) and bladder cancer patients."

As of 2020, there are over 430,000 kidney cancer patients worldwide. In South Korea, the number of kidney cancer patients has increased by approximately 27% over the past five years, from 5,432 patients in 2017 to 6,883 patients in 2021. Moreover, kidney cancer has been included among the top ten cancers in South Korea since 2019.