She underwent surgery to remove the cancer and believes mold exposure may have contributed to the disease.
After being dismissed by numerous doctors, a woman was diagnosed with kidney cancer.
In February 2022, Schayene Silva -- 38-year-old boutique owner -- was thrilled after finally moving into her new Oklahoma home. But just a few months later, she started experiencing debilitating heartburn, coughing and vomiting.
By November 2023, Silva also started dealing with a "strange pain" in her side.
"It wasn't sharp, just a dull pressure that never went away. Not horrible, just always there. A quiet but constant reminder that something wasn't right," she said on Instagram.
Silva decided to visit a doctor about her symptoms, but "nobody took me very seriously" and she was dismissed multiple times.
"I saw eight or nine doctors. Most of them said it was gas, a pulled muscle, or nerve pain. But I kept saying, this isn't normal. We're not supposed to feel pain 24/7," she said. "And even though everyone told me it was nothing, I kept pushing for answers."
Eventually, Silva was connected with a doctor who would take her pain seriously, referring her to get an MRI and CT scan in October 2024. The tests revealed that she had a mass on her left kidney and she was diagnosed with stage 1 clear cell renal carcinoma, the most common type of kidney cancer.
"I was devastated," Silva told Kennedy News & Media, via the Daily Mail. "I have two little boys, [so] all I could think of was that I was going to die."
"All I could do was cry," she continued. "It was really horrible. For weeks I was crying, but then I had to pick myself up. I started doing all the research I could."
In April 2025, Silva underwent surgery to remove the tumor on her kidney and was declared cancer-free because the disease was caught so early. However, considering she maintained a healthy lifestyle, Silva was curious about what led to her diagnosis.
"When I had my surgery, I was like, 'What do you think caused it? There has to be one thing.' [The doctor] said they can't really tell. He said, 'It's probably just bad luck.' "
"I wouldn't accept bad luck," she said. "If there's one thing I am, I'm very lucky."
After researching causes of kidney cancer, Silva decided to have her home tested for mold. The initial test came back clear, but she was still suspicious. She later checked her ice machine, pulling the outer case apart and discovering that it was "covered in mold."
"I had been drinking from it every single day without knowing," she said on social media.
Silva underwent lab testing and learned that she had high levels of Ochratoxin A, a carcinogenic mycotoxin produced by green and blue molds. It's known to trigger inflammation and cell death in the kidneys, increasing the risk of cancer.
The mom of two claimed that the mold was also the cause of other symptoms she was dealing with, including panic attacks, brain fog, esophagitis, GERD, hair loss, H. pylori and more. Since removing the moldy ice machine from her home, she said her health has turned around.
"Once you're out of exposure, your body knows how to heal. I knew [the doctor] was wrong, so I didn't give up. I feel like I have beat it. I'm good."
Silva's now sharing her story online.
"Here is the loud and clear truth I want everyone to know: 95% of cancers are NOT genetic. We have to start looking at our environment and what we are exposed to daily," she said.