How Long Between Nephrectomy And Beginning Of Drug Therapy?

My stepfather is undergoing his nephrectomy as I am typing this.  Someone came out and said they could not do it laparoscopically.  I know this will involve a longer recovery period.  We have an oncology appointment for him on the 16th.  (8 days from now)  His cancer is very advanced, with bilateral metasases to his lungs (too many tumors to count) and possibly his pancreas. 

 I'm concerned that having to undergo regular surgery as opposed to laparoscopy is now going to delay the beginning of whatever treatment the oncologist recommends.  I'm scared to death about any delays if it turns out his tumor is a grade 4.

If anybody can tell me how long they had to wait between nephrectomy and the beginning of drug therapy, it would be greatly appreciated.

Just a quick response,

Nephrectomy 3rd July 06 and started Sutent first type of treatment December 06. Lung mets were present at the start.  No results yet but praying for good news.  Everyones different.

 Take care and stay positive.

Siobhan 

Wow.  That's quite a while.  I know it's a difficult surgery to recover from.  That's why we're all so disappointed they weren't able to do the surgery laparoscopically, but you just have to play the hand your dealt, so we'll deal with it. 

I do hope my stepdad doesn't have to wait that long to begin treatment.  I'm so anxious to get him on whatever course the oncologist decides and start shrinking the remaining tumors.  His doctor did tell us he would still be able to make the onc appointment next Friday.

 Thank you so much for your response.  This website has given us all hope in the face of a challenging diagnosis.

 Good luck to your husband.  I hope he starts seeing results soon!

Hi, 

The reason we had to wait so long was that sutent wasn't licenced in Ireland and once it was it took 3 months before the red tape and paperwork were completed for it to be prescribed. We were lucky that we were told that georges tumors were slow growing and during that time there was very little growth. I think that the sooner treatment starts the better because the waiting and worrying is the hardest part.

Good luck with the appointment on Friday.

Siobhan 

On 3/8/2007 Trice wrote

 

If anybody can tell me how long they had to wait between nephrectomy and the beginning of drug therapy, it would be greatly appreciated.

Best of luck to you. Please keep us posted.

On 3/9/2007 Siogeo wrote:

Just a quick response,

Nephrectomy 3rd July 06 and started Sutent first type of treatment December 06.

May I ask if the side effects are difficult with Sutent? I realize everyone reacts differently, but trying to get a feel for what my husband can expect.

Thank You and best of luck to you!

Hi Ambush,

As you will see from other posts everyone taking sutent is different.  My husband started his first cycle on Dec 1st. and really the side effects for him have been very manageable. 

Cycle 1 nothing much until day 11 when fatigue set in, our youngest daughter picked up a bug at school and this knocked him for six, he ended up in hopsital for 5 days.  They just monitored him in the hospital and he carried on the sutent. Tiredness was his main complaint.

Cycle 2 nothing much at all. Tiredness some days but not too bad, slight yellowness of the skin, odd rash on body, blotchiness, he uses baby oil on his skin every day and finds vaseline intensive care with aloe vera takes care of any slight itchiness.

Cycle 3 Ok until about day 10 then tiredness and feeling cold.  His stomach was playing up so takes motillium which has settled that problem.

George was very lucky that he was feeling good when he started Sutent and this was his first treatment.  He has maintained his weight and no real problems. He has been able to do jobs around the house, collect our daughter from school, normal things.  He takes it easy and just does what he can. 

At the end of this cycle he will be scanned to see what is happening we are very hopeful and a positive attitude goes a long way as you will see from other peoples postings.  

Good luck when your husband starts Sutent and ask on the messageboard when side effects happen as nearly always someone will have an answer.

Siobhan

I agree that mindset is very important.  Last year at my first appointment with my oncologist (i had breast cancer), when he told me he couldn't, at that point, tell me my prognosis because we didn't know if it had spread yet, I told him, "Well, I know I'm  going to make it."  His response was, "Then you will."  He is a firm believer that frame of mind can have a direct impact on outcome.  I realize that isn't always the case, but it sure helps.

I pray that my stepdad's side effects to whatever he is prescribed will be minimal as well.  He told me when he first found out he had stage iv kidney cancer, before we had researched anything on it, he would refuse chemotherapy after seeing what I went through on it last year. 

I was relieved to tell him kidney cancer doesn't respond to chemo and he would be given other types of drugs with hopefully less side effects.  i worry if the side effects are too bad, he'll stop them on his own.