Latest messages for CancerCompass discussion http://www.cancercompass.com/message-board/message/all,30856,0.htm Mon, 23 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT Mon, 23 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT http://backend.userland.com/rss RSS.NET: http://www.rssdotnet.com/ Hi,First of all I would like to tell you to stay strong!  My dad was diagnosed with kidney cancer in 2003.  His kidney was removed. In April of 2006 we were infomed that it has spread to his lungs.  The drugs tried were nexavar sutent.  My dad suffered from terrible side effects on both of these drugs with minimal or no response from them.  In August of 2008 he was diagnosed with tumors now on his brain.  This was so scary for all of us.  He took 3 weeks of radiation and now is taking weekly iv treatments of torisel.   Now for the good news.....as of last week he had a chest xray and the doc is thinking about a 30% reduction of the tumors in his lungs.  I was thrilled.  The side effects of the torisel are minimal compared to the others.  They are going to do a CT scan shortly to get a better picture.  They have also looked at his brain and see no progression and he has not experienced any more seizures from them so we are hopeful that there as been a reduction there as well.   My dad is 58 years old and I will tell you the same thing I tell him.................Fight Fight Fight   More drugs and treatments are constantly coming out and we will find the one that works. Ten years ago this may not have been an option. And PRAY.  Shelly Shellyb Fri, 05 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMT My father was just diagnosed in June with Stage 4 RCC with mets to his brain and lungs.  He went though 14 brain radiation treatments, and his current CT and MRI brain scans appear stable at this time.  We are very grateful!  He is also back on Sutent after a month off (he had blood clots in his lungs and was found to be severely hypothyroid).  I would encourage you to make sure your wife's blood counts to be monitored, as well as keeping an eye out for her thyroid levels. As far as side effects, he experienced extreme fatigue, slurred speech, loss of appetite, feeling cold, and weakness, but we think a lot of those symptoms might have been due to his low thyroid function in addition to the Sutent. I wish you both the best,Julie D. LadyJulie Wed, 03 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMT It took me eight days to feel the SE's of Sutent.  By day nine my blood pressure went up a lot and I felt terrible.  I do not have any first hand knowledge for the brain mets but have read of others who did well after they were treated.  I am sorry you are having trouble obtaining this drug, hopefully Phyzer will step up to the plate.  God Bless you and your wife.  Robbie2 Wed, 03 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMT The doctor has stated wife has some small spots in brain.  They are not big may 1-3mm.  They are being treated right now with radiation.  Has any one else have that diagnosis and how long has it been?  My wife is on her 2nd dosage of Sutent and still not having any bad side affects.  How long before she feels any?  I hope she doesn't get any but trying to let her know that some might show up.  Have been trying to get a hold of pfizer to get the meds for free currently have paid for 14 days and hoping they will step in and help me pay for the rest.  Aslo see that they could reimburse me for what I have paid for already.  Anyone going through this??  Any feed back on the brain metastes is appreciated.  Fight, stay strong and think postive is all I have right now.  My prayers to all, and remember you can win!!!  Jimmy69 Tue, 02 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMT