Sutent Users....

My father has kidney cancer and was diagnosed a little over 4 months ago. When they discovered it it had already spread to his bones  and he had begun to suffer severe back pain. In December '07 he began sutent treatments and consontrated radiation treatments. Well 12 treatments later the holes in his bones seemed to have filled in and his bones seem to be much stronger. It is now 4 months after diagonsis and 2 or 3 stutent cycles later and his tumors on both kidneys have strunk so much in size that they are undetecable on an ultrasound.

From what I'm hearing this a very rare for the tumors to strink so small. Now we just have to sit back and take things as they come. But for those of you struggling on the drug, have hope and keep praying. God will reveal  his power.

what dosage of sutent is your father taking? my father is taking 2 pills for 2 weeks and 3 pills for another 2 weeks and off 2 weeks. I am curious to know if tumor shrinkage can occur without taking 4 pills (50 mg) or not.

I too am curious if anyone has experienced tumor shrinkage while on a lower dose of Sutent. I am on my second cycle of 25mg. I had a scan after my 1st. 4 week cycle which showed some growth. My doctor has asked me to continue on 25mg for another 4 week cycle, and then up the dose to 37.5mg for the next 4 week cycle, and then have another cat scan. However, even 37.5mg is not the full dose of 50mg. We are both concerned about side effects. Anyone have any advice? I know it's all a guessing game, with the drugs being so new, but any info would be helpful.

Richard

 My husband was dx Nov
  07,.. RCC stage 4,.. bilateral multi kidney lesions, mets to
  spine,(compression fracture,) sacrum,  hip, left femur, and very large
  lytic lesions on pelvis,.. Started Sutent ( 50's ) Nov 07, 2nd round he was

  very ill,.. 14 radiation treatments to bones Jan 08,.. monthly Aridea ( to
  which no evidence of lytic lesions show on x-rays after 2 treatments ) ,. .Feb
  08 Ct "No evidence of soft tissue involvement." , Sutent reduced to 37.5,.. AND WE WILL SEE FROM HERE! We will keep you posted.