I would like to respond to the husband who is writing about his wife's RCC and the removal of her left kidney. He inquires about the use of Sutent as follow-up.
I responded in a message September 9, 2007 (caregiver - murph) detailing his experience using the drug Sutent when it was discovered cancer had returned in that and adjacent areas in December of 2006.
He is just now finishing up his seventh session of Sutent (28 day on - then 21 days off). It seems to be working for him. Our oncologist at Mayo Clinic says that if the cancer is not growing - the drug is working. He had some fragments in the pancreas that disappeared after the first treatments, and the two small tumors have not grown. He will be going back for a follow-up checkup and tests December 10th.
He experiences some side effects (not like the first session as detailed in the 9/9/7 email with the heart issues) such as some fatigue, some diarrhea (uses Imodium successfully) very little nausea. His on-going complaint that we have not been able to solve, is the altered taste - a very burny, salty taste that does not seem to go away.
He is 75 and just retired a month before his problems began. He had felt fine, no problems, before the RCC popped up. We are still able to be active, have an active social life, and feel the side effects are worth the advantage.
Good luck, and I hope this email will answer some of your questions. If you are unable to find the 9/9/7 message about the heart issues, or if you have other questions, please contact me. murph