Sutent

Hi there. I have just joined so am new here. My Dad ha advanced RCC and after having his kidney removed 13 years ago, the cancer is back in the form of bone metastesis. The oncologist has recommended he start Sutent. I have read up about the side effects, however I would like to know from experience how severe these have been with anybody who has been on this drug. My Dad is 79 and not very healthy from other aspects. I am concerned the side effects will be overwhelming.

Thanks,

Mk

 

On 12/14/2008 Stanson wrote:

Hi there. I have just joined so am new here. My Dad ha advanced RCC and after having his kidney removed 13 years ago, the cancer is back in the form of bone metastesis. The oncologist has recommended he start Sutent. I have read up about the side effects, however I would like to know from experience how severe these have been with anybody who has been on this drug. My Dad is 79 and not very healthy from other aspects. I am concerned the side effects will be overwhelming.

Thanks,

Mk

So sorry to hear about your dad's cancer returning.  Mine too has returned after 11 years having my kidney removed.  I will be starting Sutent in the new year.  If you go on the website www.kidneycancercanada.org you can read about people's different experiences with this drug, which can vary a lot.  All the best to your dad.

Joanne

 

On 12/14/2008 Stanson wrote:

Hi there. I have just joined so am new here. My Dad ha advanced RCC and after having his kidney removed 13 years ago, the cancer is back in the form of bone metastesis. The oncologist has recommended he start Sutent. I have read up about the side effects, however I would like to know from experience how severe these have been with anybody who has been on this drug. My Dad is 79 and not very healthy from other aspects. I am concerned the side effects will be overwhelming.

Thanks,

Mk

Hi!

     I also have advanced RCC. In June of 07 it returned in my lymphnodes, lungs and bone. I'm 57, and have been taking Sutent for a year. Fatigue is the most prominent side effect along with nausea, altered taste of food and hand-foot syndrome.When the foot pain became unbearable my dosage was reduced to 371/2 mg. The sides are much better now. My next scan is on the 30th. I will keep your Dad in my prayers and keep positive thoughts.                 John

My husband's cancer returned after 14 years.  He was on Torisel for 3 cycles and it did not work.  He has been on Sutent and just finished his fourth cycle and will have scans at the end of the month.  He has had no side effects except for week #4 in the cycle when he became very fatigued after cycle #1.  By the end of cycle #4, he only felt tired for about two days.  His eyes tend to wter a lot toward the end of the cycle and gets a cough and some heartburn, but other than that feels great most of the time.  Hope you all have the same after-effect luck with this drug.  Torisel left him feeling great except for day #3 after the treatment when he was tired.    Good luck! 

Many thanks. My Dad was very concerned about the side effects. Now the major limiting effect is that on the heart (LVEF), The Drs are re-considering due to his heart condition. Another option is Nexavar (Sorafenib). 

I wish you the best of luck with your treatment.

Mk

 

On 12/15/2008 Sanlin wrote:

My husband's cancer returned after 14 years.  He was on Torisel for 3 cycles and it did not work.  He has been on Sutent and just finished his fourth cycle and will have scans at the end of the month.  He has had no side effects except for week #4 in the cycle when he became very fatigued after cycle #1.  By the end of cycle #4, he only felt tired for about two days.  His eyes tend to wter a lot toward the end of the cycle and gets a cough and some heartburn, but other than that feels great most of the time.  Hope you all have the same after-effect luck with this drug.  Torisel left him feeling great except for day #3 after the treatment when he was tired.    Good luck! 

This is wonderful news!  I will pass this on to him. Now the Drs are concerned about his heart condition. Did your husband have his heart checked up during the treatment? and if yes was there a drop in his LVEF? Thanks again and Good Luck!

 

He had had no heart problem issues and all blood tests have been good.  He is 77 amd aside from the few side-effects feels good most of the time.  We have been lucky.  Let's hope it is working.

 

On 12/14/2008 Stanson wrote:

Hi there. I have just joined so am new here. My Dad ha advanced RCC and after having his kidney removed 13 years ago, the cancer is back in the form of bone metastesis. The oncologist has recommended he start Sutent. I have read up about the side effects, however I would like to know from experience how severe these have been with anybody who has been on this drug. My Dad is 79 and not very healthy from other aspects. I am concerned the side effects will be overwhelming.

Thanks,

Mk

I am sorry to read about your father. My 36 year old brother Sheyn had kidney cancer that had gone to his lungs. He was not diagnosed until he was stage 4. Sheyn had the diseased kidney removed in July of 07. On August 25th he started taking 50 MG of Sutent. On Sept. 9th 07 he died of a massive heart attack. Sheyn had no previous heart problems and had had an echo gram, a cardiogram and another heart test the day he  started on Sutent. I feel the Sutent caused the heart attack. If your father was my father I would not want him taking the drug. My thoughts and prayers are for you. Toya Baker

Hi!

 

I had miserable side effects with Sutent and was forced to discontinue it. Everyone is different however and who can say how your Dad will do on it. I know people who did horribly and people who tolerated it quite well and got good results. I say try it as you will know very quickly if certain side effects are unendurable. They can then lower the dosage or switch to another drug. My husband is 79 also with lots of heart and health problems but these men seem to be a tougher breed than we give them credit for.I really hope that your Dad hits the big 80 feeling good.

That maybe so,  however my brother was not given any side effects untill he started out what I thought was heart burn.  The next thing I knew he was having a heart attack.  by the time the parametics got to my house it was too late.  But my brother was at late stage kidney cancer,  it was a last ditch effort.