Latest messages for CancerCompass discussion http://www.cancercompass.com/message-board/message/all,16055,0.htm Mon, 23 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT Mon, 23 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT http://backend.userland.com/rss RSS.NET: http://www.rssdotnet.com/ Hi - My name is Stacey and my dad has been suffering from mesothelioma (cancer caused by exposure to asbestos) for the last 19 months. Actually, his exposure to the asbestos was when he was 15 years old and worked in the Brooklyn Navy Yard and then joined the Navy to fight in WWII at 16.  He was only diagnosed at age 79 although he presented with symptoms long before that.  He and my mom reocated to our home in Connecticut so he could be treated by a meso specialist in New York City.  He has fought hard and withstood two forms of chemo which halted the progression of the disease and then entered a clinical trial which unfortunately he did not react well to.  We had a meeting with his oncologist today at which he basically told us that there was a drug he could try called sutent which is not approved for meso, but is used for kidney cancer.  There are of course side effects and the only reason they would take a chance with it is that my dad had done an experimental procedure between his two chemo therapies where the doctors biopsied his tumor and sent it to California to be tested against many chemo drugs to see if any worked "in the test tube" to react with the tumor.  Two of the drugs he had already been on and this drug - sutent was the only other one which seemed to react.  Has anyone had any experience with this drug and its side effects?  My dad's cancer has spread now to the liver and abdomen and he is quickly losing strength and ability to walk, etc.  How is it that doctors who spend so much time with you can come into a room so rushed and basically say we can try this and that is basically it - you are on your own?  We have felt our dad's doctor to have become like family and yet today - it was as if we were strangers - I know it can't be easy to deliver bad news but would a hug be so bad?  My dad could have and at times seemed to feel like his dad.  You could see my father tearing up and I don't think it was only the news that so hurt him.  Thank you for any and all help you can give me.  laxmom981 Mon, 10 Sep 2007 00:00:00 GMT