palliative radiation for bone mets

Dear Maggie, this might be a good question for the kidney-onc list, as I know they have members there with bone mets. If you're not a member already, you can join on:

http://cancerguide.org/kofaq/

There is a vast amount of information from RCC patients there, though I warn in advance there are a LOT of mails, so you may want to create a separate email address for joining!

 off hand, ther only drug I know of for bone mets palliation is Zometa.

All the best, Julie

My husband has had 10 radiation treatments for extensive RCC mets to his spine.  Particularly the T6 area.  He will receive a total of 15 radiation treatments.  It is once a day for a 5 to 10 minute treatment for 15 business days.  Weekends off, thank goodness.  There is no pain involved in the radiation process & we have been told & it seems to be true that there are no adverse side effects other than extreme fatigue. No nausea, loss of hair, etc.  He also has 2 compression fractures in his spine (an extra "gift" of the cancer mets to watch out for).  Prior to radiation he was experiencing a great deal of pain, especially while standing or walking.  Our understanding is that this radiation is palliative in that it will reduce the pain as well as shrink any possible tumor and/or pressure on the spinal cord.  Yesterday morning he awoke absolutely pain free for the first time since prior to his diagnosis with stage 4 RCC in June!  He has also received IV's of Zometa once every 3 weeks.  The Zometa, we've learned, helps to prevent fractures.  It acts as a scaffold, or lattice to repair the bone damage.  Main side effect he has experienced from the Zometa is an achy feeling usually the day after the treatment.  That procedure usually takes about 45 minutes & is given with fluids.  I hope this helps you some.  Please let me know if I can help with any more information.

Best of luck, stay strong!

Jamie

So sorry, I forgot to add that my husband was on Sutent for 2 rounds & had no success with it.  He is now on Torisel, 3rd treatment is tomorrow.  From what our Oncologist advises, Sutent is first line protocol for certain individuals, then Torisel if the pathology matches.  In our case, radiation is palliative.

Jamie