Hip Surgery / Torisel

Haven't been here in a while.  My husband broke his r/hip in June, and had a fall in September, breaking the left hip.  Hospital stays were soooo different.  We are home now after a 7 day stay in a nursing care facility for rehab.  We are told its unusual to break both hips...especially so close together.  Kidney cancer has metatasized to bones, and we were in the process of radiation on the left hip, pelvic area, and 11th and 12 vertabrae in back when the 2nd break occured.  OUr last cat-scan indicated the UStent was not doing what we had hoped, slowing the progression.  So now, the Dr. wants us to consider Torisel.  We feel like we are da--- if we do and da---if we don't.  In all probability we will go with the Torisel.  We are aslo getting Procreait 1x wk and have increased the dosage from 40,000 to 60,000....Fentanyl patches for pain from 125 mg to 150 mg, and oxycodone 15mg for breakthru pain, as needed....which is not as bad since we have the Fentanyl patches. 

I guess, I just need some reinforcements as to where do we go now.  We are not ready to give up the Fight.... My husbad is using a walker, and is getting better daily with that....would love to see him back to a cane...appetitie is gone...oh, I could go on and on...

Just remember us as we remember all others who are suffering...

Nene Jo 

 

Hi Nene Jo, first I want to say that I probably speak for many of us, and we always keep positive thoughts for everyone on the site.  I am so sorry to hear about the bones breaking.  My husband Bob is still on nexavar, but we think next month they will switch him to the sutent, or perhaps the torisel.  I belong to another group on line called sharing and caring, we have patients, and caregivers, who are on both torisel, and sutent, so If you have any questions, I am sure they will help answer you.  If you are interested, drop me a line.  take good care of yourself and your husband, Laura

 

On 10/17/2007 Nenejo wrote:

Haven't been here in a while.  My husband broke his r/hip in June, and had a fall in September, breaking the left hip.  Hospital stays were soooo different.  We are home now after a 7 day stay in a nursing care facility for rehab.  We are told its unusual to break both hips...especially so close together.  Kidney cancer has metatasized to bones, and we were in the process of radiation on the left hip, pelvic area, and 11th and 12 vertabrae in back when the 2nd break occured.  OUr last cat-scan indicated the UStent was not doing what we had hoped, slowing the progression.  So now, the Dr. wants us to consider Torisel.  We feel like we are da--- if we do and da---if we don't.  In all probability we will go with the Torisel.  We are aslo getting Procreait 1x wk and have increased the dosage from 40,000 to 60,000....Fentanyl patches for pain from 125 mg to 150 mg, and oxycodone 15mg for breakthru pain, as needed....which is not as bad since we have the Fentanyl patches. 

I guess, I just need some reinforcements as to where do we go now.  We are not ready to give up the Fight.... My husbad is using a walker, and is getting better daily with that....would love to see him back to a cane...appetitie is gone...oh, I could go on and on...

Just remember us as we remember all others who are suffering...

Nene Jo 

 

 

Hi Nenajo

 

I am so sorry to hear about your husband and his condition I can't imagine the pain.  You both sound like very strong people that will be fighting this fight and that is a good thing.  My mother is on toricel and she said she hasn't gotten sick or had any side effects at all and she is on her 2nd month of treatment.   

 

Best of luck to you

 Melissa

 

Melissa....Thanks so much for your response.  We are just a bit anxious to start the Torisel.  But, then again we are also to the point, what choice do we have?   We had just received our next dosage of Sutent, and will not..rather cannot start that when we are getting reayd to do Torisel. 

Things change so fast in this old cancer world...The last time we reviewed Torisel the side effects were so that Jim decided to go with Sutent.  Now, they don't seem so bad.  After we get all lined up with insurance, should be able to start next week.

 

Nene Jo

Laura, would love to get online with your support group.  Anything...Sometimes its just nice to have another person to share with who seems to understand what you're going through.

 

Thanks

Nene Jo

Dear Nene Jo,
I am so sorry to hear about your husband. My husband also has mets to the bones, liver and lungs. He just started torisel 3 weeks ago. He is on Lortab and oxyodone. He is going to ask the doctor for Fentanyl patch because of his severe pain. He is also receiving Zometa for his bones once a month. He has had one treatment for that. I pray that your husband will get some relief as well as everyone else. Please continue to write.
Marleen

Maureen...we have had only 2 injections of our Torisel, and are on a Fentanyl patch combination of 100 and either 12 or 25 mcg...whichever is right for that time frame. We also take oxycodone, but are down to just 15mg with the patches. I can see a difference in what Jim takes since we started Fentanyl. Having had surgery with both hips broken has certainly been no picnic...but I learn something everyday, and am so appreciative of our oncolofy nurse.

Would love to hear more from you.

Take care.
Nene Jo

Melissa, has your Mom had no skin rashes or dry mouth? That seems to be the main problems Jim is experiencing right now. Of course, we also have fatigue, anemia, and low appetite.