Help For Mesothelioma Patient Running Out Of Options

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. 

If you go on the message board and go under Kidney or Renal Cell there are alot of people who are being treated with Sutent. Wishing you and your family the best.

Bernadette

Queens, New York

Hi- I lost my husband 17 years so to this type of cancer. When we

were getting ready for chemo, we went to the Dr. who had not seen him for four weeks, as he was recovering from surgery. His oncologist

looked at him and said what are you doing?  You look good.

We told him about the visualizations he was doing, listening to

a tape called Cancer by Louise Hays, meditatiojn, and supplements.

He said keep doing what you are doing. This chemo will make

him sick.  He also suggested he eat "stick rice" like the

Asians do.  I bought a special pot and we had the rice.

Ron was stage four when diagnosed and given 6 months to

live.  We had him for three years and two years he was in

remission and his doctor called him his miracle. I know it is

difficult to belive but it really happened and I am a mental

health counselor. It was amazing.  The book given to us to

read is "Getting Well Again" and goes into the things we tried.

Whatever you do, you are in my prayer.

 

 

My uncle was diagnosed with mesothelioma two years ago and he basically didn't respond well to any of the "normal" treatments. His doctor, at the suggestion of his attorney, offered to try him on Sutent because the company is currently conducting clinical trials for this drug for the treatment of mesothelioma. 

Bottom line is its still a little early but so far so good. Its the first drug he has responded to, and we have hope. We are lucky that his attorney really cared about him and tried to get him the help he needed. Don't know if your father has a lawyer but Mark & Associates is who I would recommend (1-866-507-4448), they are in NY even though we are in California.

 My uncle is currently being treated at UCSD Medical Center and I think he has a terrific group of oncologists. Never be afraid to switch doctors. 

 

Hope this helps.  

Both myself and my husband have had amazing healing experiences through visualizations. There is a young energy healer from Canada who offers seminars in many parts of the world whose main teachings are about the power within us all to heal through visualizations. There are many video testimonials on his website which is http://www.dreamhealer.com/

On 9/25/2007 Ldyserene wrote:

Hi- I lost my husband 17 years so to this type of cancer. When we

were getting ready for chemo, we went to the Dr. who had not seen him for four weeks, as he was recovering from surgery. His oncologist

looked at him and said what are you doing?  You look good.

We told him about the visualizations he was doing, listening to

a tape called Cancer by Louise Hays, meditatiojn, and supplements.

He said keep doing what you are doing. This chemo will make

him sick.  He also suggested he eat "stick rice" like the

Asians do.  I bought a special pot and we had the rice.

Ron was stage four when diagnosed and given 6 months to

live.  We had him for three years and two years he was in

remission and his doctor called him his miracle. I know it is

difficult to belive but it really happened and I am a mental

health counselor. It was amazing.  The book given to us to

read is "Getting Well Again" and goes into the things we tried.

Whatever you do, you are in my prayer.