Sutent Has Worked For Me, Tumors Are Gone

After 7 cycles on Sutent 50 mgs, my last scan showed my two mets are gone completely.

I am a 65 year old male and have visited this message board site many times in the past year but this is my first posting. I have gotten much encouraging information to fight this disease from postings on this site and I now hope that my good news will encourage others to continue their fight.

My history: 1) 1991 RCC in left kidney resulting in left nephrectomy 2) 1998 RCC mass in vocal chord removed surgically, 3) Dec 2006 stage IV RCC mets to adrenal gland and lung area. These mets were found “accidentally” while getting a CT scan for a Diverticulitis condition.

My mets started at 3 cm and decreased with each scan while I continued my Sutent treatment until my last scan in late Oct. showed a complete absence of tumors.

I was fortunate that through my 7 Sutent cycles my side effects were tolerable. Major side effects consisted of gastrointestinal, high blood pressure (Lisinopril and Norvasc controlled it), and fatigue. These were mostly felt after 2 weeks into the cycle but disappeared in the 2 week off period.

My onc gave me hope but never false hope. His view was that we would treat my RCC as a chronic illness trying to stabilize and stop its progression and attempting to keep me around for as long as possible knowing that there were other cancer medicines in the development pipeline which we could avail ourselves of once approved if the Sutent stopped working. The name of the game is to buy time since we are all hopeful there is a miracle cure around the corner.

Last December, after I got over the initial shock of the RCC stage IV diagnosis, I fought to get into a positive attitude mode. Once I started the Sutent treatment, I went back to living my life as I had before the diagnosis. Being retired I played 2 rounds of golf a week, walked 2 miles a day for exercise, did my own landscaping work around my home, continued my charitable volunteer work, etc. This helped me keep a positive attitude and I’m sure boosted my immune system so my body’s defenses and the Sutent together could fight the RCC. From time to time I’d get down on myself but by keeping busy was able to get into positive attitude mode again.

Oh and one more thing… prayer. I am convinced that the hand of God played a large part in my recovery… you know “ask and it will be granted”. I don’t mean to give a sermon here but I firmly believe that one’s spirituality has much to do with our body’s ability to fight off disease.

That’s my story. I don’t know what tomorrow will bring but I’m thankful for each day that I am given. May God bless all of us in the fight against this illness. I wish you all good luck and a full recovery and I hope that my good news will serve as encouragement for others in the fight against RCC.

Thanks for sharing your story and your testimony of faith in God. My husband Steve finds great comfort in God and his word. I am so happpy that Sutent has worked for you, I pray for everyone on this site. It has given me hope in our battle with cancer. God Bless, Wanda

Wonderful story!!! It is stories like yours that get the rest of us through this cancer. My husband has RCC and is on his 1st round of Sutent. He only has a spot on lung that we know of and we pray Sutent will get rid of it.

Mr. Magoo, it is so good to hear this news. My husband on April 30th had his left kidney removed due to cancer found in kidney. They felt that it was all encapsulated at the time of surger. My husband went for 6-month follow up CT scan and found that the cancer had reappeared. He has two tumors 1 2" in size in the area where the kidney was removed and another 1" in size in his lower left back area (Psoas). They are treating that with radiation at this time 23 treatments and on 27th of November will be done with that treatment. We will need to wait 4-6 weeks for follow up CT scan to see if treatment stablized or shurnk tumors. In addition to that the cancer had gone to his lungs - he has about a dozen very small nodules - on the 28th of November he is going to start Sutent 1 12 mg and 1 25 mg pill - 4 weeks on 2 off. We are anxious to start. My husband is 71, working full time, not real active in other areas. Doesn't exercise (235 lbs), walk, though his job requires a lot of walking as well as driving (limo driver). Very young in mind and healthy. Is there any advice you would like to share with us to help us get through this.

Kate

Kate,

Sutent is strong medicine against RCC and will go along way in beating your husband’s cancer.

In addition, anything that he does to keep his immune system in tiptop condition will be a big help in ridding himself of the cancer. First a positive attitude…. believe that your husband will beat his cancer. Then project this positive attitude to your husband. He must believe that he is going to come through this just fine. Then healthy eating habits, some exercise, prayer and spirituality, he should stay well rested… take a nap in the middle of the day when tired, and going about his normal activities will work to keep his body’s natural defenses at their peek.

May God bless you and your husband.

Thank you for the kind words and encouragement.  I wish you good health for a very long time.  Enjoy the holidays.

Kate

 

Kim, my husband starts his Sutent on the 28th of November.  He has about a dozen small tumors on his lungs.  Could you keep me informed on his reactions as he goes forward with the drug.  I would be anxious and curious to know how he is doing and how he is handling the Sutent and what he is doing to help him get through all side affects if any. Good luck to the both of you and both in my thoughts.

KatrinaR

My husband went back for a checkup yesterday. His blood work was all good but he is not having scans done until after 2nd round of Sutent. His symptoms have been bad reflux at times, diarrhea and gas, his feet are starting to get sore but no blisters yet. Over all his doctor told him he was tolerating the drug ok.

Kim

Kim, thank you for sharing your husbands experience with Sutent.  What dosage is he is taking?  Again, please keep me up to date on his reactions and remedies to alleviate the side affects.  My thoughts and good wishes always.

KatrinaR

 

On 11/16/2007 KatrinaR wrote:

Kim, thank you for sharing your husbands experience with Sutent.  What dosage is he is taking?  Again, please keep me up to date on his reactions and remedies to alleviate the side affects.  My thoughts and good wishes always.

KatrinaR

Hi there so happy when I hear someone is beating this beast called rcc----it is so fast moving and sneaky--my hubby had his right kidney out in 2003 had 3 good years then it showed up again in an enlarged lymph node behind the good kidney and a few lung mets --thank god sutent had just come out and we had something to try to give us hope of surviving--he managed 5 cycles of sutent at 50 mg and it dissloved a 17mmlung met and others stayed the same and the lymph node couldn't be seen to be enlarged anymore--we were so happy--then his heart was only pumping 38% and the sutent had started to weaken his heart--he i s 57 yrs old--so he went off for 3 months and in that time it grew so fast many mets to the lungs and a new 3cm node in the aortacaval region--we then tried Nexavar and he had an allergic reaction to it within 9 days--went off that and has now gone back to sutent at 25mg dose is in his 4th week of his 2nd cycle--we do a mugascan to see how his heart is holding up on a heart medicine coreg to help the pyumping so we pray that it is ok--the sutent was wonderful for us and he will be so discouraged if he can't take it to try to survive--I guess torisel will be the next option--his side effects were tolerable --the 2 weeks off really help--just remeber to keep a steady  eye  on your rcc because it can sneak up on you so quickly --good luck and yes god has a hand in everything--i just know he has been with Jimm thru all of this helping him to stay positive and strong and brave--keep fighting all you RCC warriors-----Peace,Sue