Sutent is working!

I have been taking 50mg of Sutent daily (4 weeks on / 2 weeks off) since August.  In conjunction with Xgeva it is working quite effectively for me.  I only have bone mets.

However, the amount of time that Sutent will "work" varies for each patient. It seems to be, on average, about one year or so.

Sutent, like every other anti-angiogenic drug, does not work indefinitely.  Eventually there is a resistance built up to its effectiveness in stopping or shrinking mets.  That's just the way it is. 

When that happens you go on to using a different TKI or other therapy.  Thankfully there are quite a few choices available these days - and more are being added regularly.

The idea with these particular drugs is to just prolong life - they can not "cure" the disease.  The idea is turn cancer into a chronic - not lethal - disease.

As such the biggest becomes dealing with the side effects of these drugs.

I have been taking Sutent with no significant side effects.  That is only due, I believe, to the specific diet and certain supplements I take.

This approach is outlined in the book, "Life Over Cancer" by Dr. Keith I. Block.

As you have bladder cancer and not kidney, you may not read the kidney cancer posts regularly.  Today you should.  There is an excellent post today called Sutent for newbies.  Read it and you will feel better. 

I'm glad you feel better.  Read my post today from donsmrs.  She posted in Sutent for Newbies and there is a section about even newer treatments that may help you and are worth exploring.

Hang in there!

Kelly C

THere is a great deal of evidence that the use of bisphosphonates such as Zometa and Xgeva help give greater response when used with Sutent. Zometa is even used to prevent bone mets in breast cancer patients, and is often prescribed by doctors who are very expert in their care of kidney cancer.  Using Xgeva is also recommended, but trying to get the general word out to all.

You can reply through my blog at www.peggyRCC.wordpress.com for some medical articles which would be of interest to you and your doctor.

Hi all,

I had my left  kidney removed in 2007, the  doctors told me, the tumor conatained only to my kidney and not to worry. After 3 years i felt a pain in my chest and vomited blood, after a prolong checkup and a biopsy, it was confirmed one of my nodules had met, I was put on Sutent 50mlg could last only for 2 weeks, severe side effects, reduced the dosage and i was put on 37.5 mlg for about a year, it worked, all nodules decreased in size, then I was asked to take a break to observe the progress, after one year, I vomited blood, since April 2012 I was put on 37.5mlg Stutent again,  all CT/ PET results were excellent, nodules began to diminish, now it stands at the largest nodule in my Lymph node is just 5mm and the rest few are so small even to measure it. beginning last monday I am on 25mlg Stutent, without any side effects, I am planning to go back to a regular job, life is normal, I hope and pray next CT scan in about two months time will be better.

However, working of Sutent varies for each patient. for me it is working for more than 2 years now, and going great until now, if it does stop working one day, there a quite a few different treatments available these days, and more reasearch are being carried out regularly.

I am sharing this note with all RCC patients, to give them hope.  I dont consider myself as a Cancer patient, I hit the gym 4 times a week, and feel happy and content with life, I am 52 years and have a long way to go.