Today we’d like to introduce you to Annamaria Scaccia
Hi Annamaria, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
In September 2020, I was diagnosed with renal cell carcinoma at 37 years old. Less than a month later, I underwent a radical nephrectomy, removing a nearly 5cm tumor along with my left kidney. I learned I had chromophobe renal cell carcinoma (chRCC), a rare form of kidney cancer.
Before this, I was a kickboxer, training intensively and planning to compete. Since 2017, I had been focusing on fitness and eating a high-protein diet. Despite being in fit, I had no idea something was wrong. I’m thankful to my doctor and medical team for catching the cancer early.
After recovering, I shifted my focus to bodybuilding. Blood sports were no longer in the cards—not if I wanted to keep my right kidney in tact. I eased back into working out with walks, then started boot camp classes with bodyweight exercises and resistance bands, and began lifting weights seriously in April 2021.
Yet, after researching extensively on how to maintain my progress, I found little information for people like me—athletes with one kidney. Most resources focused on diets for chronic kidney disease, which didn’t fit my situation. And asking healthcare professionals for help go me nowhere; most of their recommendations were based on outdated studies examining protein and kidney health.
That’s why I started Stillwell Fitness. I wanted to help others who, like me, have been misled by misconceptions, providing them with in-depth research, insights, and coaching. Over the past 3 years, I have had many kidney cancer survivors and other people with one kidney reach out to learn about my story, my training, my health, and my protein intake. They often say they would love to be bodybuilders but feel they can’t because they’ve lost a kidney. They share experiences of coaches and doctors telling them they can’t build muscle due to protein limitations.
My response is always the same: I became a bodybuilder after losing my left kidney and reducing my protein intake. I competed in my first natural bodybuilding show as a figure athlete in November 2021 because I wanted to prove that myths about protein, kidneys, and muscle building are wrong.
But my journey continued with another challenge: in May 2023, I was diagnosed with papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC), likely developing alongside my previous cancer. I had my entire thyroid removed in July 2023 and underwent radioactive iodine treatment in January 2024. I am still actively fighting thyroid cancer today.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Bodybuilding with one kidney is tough. The sport is already demanding, but having only one kidney makes it even harder. Bulking takes longer and navigating nutrition when faced with conflicting and incomplete guidance becomes a daily fight. While other bodybuilders might compete in five shows a year, you might only manage two to protect your remaining kidney. Dealing with the impact of cancer on your body and life adds extra stress, especially with the added anxiety of scans during prep.
I had taken a break from competing to deal with the trauma of kidney cancer, but being diagnosed with thyroid cancer has brought new challenges. More scans, more treatments, and more worries. Fluctuating energy levels and side effects from suppression therapy make it hard to function as I did before, so I’ve had to adjust my approach to training and recovery once again. I am still trying to figure out the best road for me.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
During the day, I work as a communications director for a global consulting firm. Outside of work, I am a survivor advocate, personal trainer, and nutrition coach.
What sets me apart as a trainer and nutrition coach is that I am one of the few–if not the only–coach focused on helping people with one kidney build muscle. I started Stillwell Fitness as a space for weightlifters like us who worry about kidney health, because the industry often doesn’t cater to our needs. I use my platform as a coach to change the narrative on what it means to be a bodybuilder with one kidney and to provide insights to people like me who feel overwhelmed and frustrated by the lack of information and guidance.
I am most proud of helping my one-kidney clients reach goals they once thought were out of reach. Bodybuilding with one kidney is tough. We have to consider risks and challenges others don’t, and we can’t take shortcuts. Sometimes I feel a bit insecure, but I know my programming is solid and I make the right tweaks for my clients. When they tell me my coaching has given them the confidence and helped them get closer to their dream physique, it reassures me that I am making a real impact.
Is there anyone you’d like to thank or give credit to?
My friend and former coach Shaylin Cofield, who helped me get my start in natural bodybuilding.
My long-time client, friend and fellow kidney cancer survivor Raul Chavez, who continues to put in the work.
My fellow kidney cancer survivors (Kayla, Catherine, Melissa, Tracy, and Katie), my partner Sam Chama, and my son Kelly, all of whom have provided support as I navigate this cancer experience.
Pricing:
- Fitness Coaching: $75 per month
- Nutrition Coaching: $75 per month
- Fitness & Nutrition Coaching Bundle: $125 per month (deal)
- 6-month workout program design: $200 flat
Contact Info:
- Website: https://stillwellfit.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stillwellfitness/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/stillwellfitness
Image Credits
Photographer: Carlos J. Gallegos (IG: @fotosgallegos)
