Objective: To understand adolescent's experiences with chronic renal failure disease, attended in a pubic teaching hospital at São Paulo state. Method: Phenomenological study, based on the philosophical reference of Martin Heidegger, with six adolescents interviewed by the following question: "What is it like to be an adolescent with chronic renal failure?" Results: Three ontological categories emerged: feeling different; experiencing renal insufficiency through renal replacement therapy;

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... g normality. Conclusion: It was evidenced that the experiences of these adolescents were demonstrated by their behaviors of acceptance and denial, both related to chronic renal failure as a peculiar condition of their lives. Implications for practice: It is crucial that nursing directs a more careful look at adolescents with chronic renal failure, going beyond the disease and also considering the particularities of the adolescents necessary to face the adversities that arise from this experience.