No More Options

I have been on and off this site since April 2007 when we found out my husbands cancer had returned with a vengance.  He was on Sutent for 20 months with very little growth until the last PET scan.  His body stopped reacting to the Sutent as the cancer had begin to spead and enlarge.  He went on Torisel and had 5 treatments and suffered many complications with the most threatening to his one kidney.  He had to be taken off Torisel or it would have caused renal failure.  His cancer is too advanced at this point and there is no other drug for him due to other serious health issues.  As you can imagine, we are both very disapointed that the treatments did not work longer or better for Jeff.  I have read many success stories on this site and some of you are now in remission.  For all that have this beast of a desease, please look at the people that has been successful and keep the fight going.  We have some of the best oncologist in the US and we are forever greatfull that they have done what they could for this long.  While we are not giving up, my husband Jeff, decided to take whatever time God is giving him and enjoy some quality of life to go and do things while he can.  Since he has been off the treatments and released from the hospital, he has felt better than I have seen him feel since he first began the Sutent.  We dicided we will travel and do the things that he has been too tired and sick to do.

Good luck to you all and God bless you in your fight.  Love your friends and family while you have them.

Sandi

Hi Sandi,

Have you asked your oncologist about tarceva?  It is chemo in a pill form taken once a day.  It does have some side effects but minimal and easily treated. 

I wish your family the best and I hope you all enjoy your trravels.  If he does decide to take the tarceva, the quality of life is very good once you get past the initial side effects.  I've been on it over 2 years with stage 4 and am doing just fine. 

Good luck and God Bless

Hello,

My husband has felt the same way since his last CT.  Of course we've known for over 4 years, his cancer was incureable, and inoperable.  After 30 radiation treatments and 6 Chemo treatments, the doctor told us, it had really spread, and he also has tumors growing on the outside of his body, starting under his armpit, going down his arm, and will spread and become larger.

So, we're just taking it "One Day At A Time" As this is his wish, and wants no part of any more Chemo.

Good Luck to all of you going through such a terrible time.  I read every day your blogs, and have learned so much about this terrible monster, we all call cancer.

And you are in my hushbands prayers.

Kaybel

On 4/11/2009 Kaybel1215 wrote:

Hello,

My husband has felt the same way since his last CT.  Of course we've known for over 4 years, his cancer was incureable, and inoperable.  After 30 radiation treatments and 6 Chemo treatments, the doctor told us, it had really spread, and he also has tumors growing on the outside of his body, starting under his armpit, going down his arm, and will spread and become larger.

So, we're just taking it "One Day At A Time" As this is his wish, and wants no part of any more Chemo.

Good Luck to all of you going through such a terrible time.  I read every day your blogs, and have learned so much about this terrible monster, we all call cancer.

And you are in my hushbands prayers.

Kaybel

Kaybel,

You are the first that I feel is in the same situation as we are.  If there were a chance that one of these drugs would cure the cancer, my husband may  be willing to take that chance once again.  He is just tired of not feeling good and he does not want to lose anymore feel good days.  He has been battling this cancer since 2003 and as your husband, he is starting to see the tumors show up on the outside.  I hope you and your husband are able to at least get some travel in and take this time to get as much out of life as possible.  We will also keep you in our prayers.  I lost my dad to lung cancer in 2004 and I'm not sure if my husband will have the same signs as my dad had near the end of the journey, but I know it will not be easy.  If you ever need to talk (good or bad), I'll be on this site for a while.

You all take care and live it up to the fullest!

Sandi

Chessie,

Thank you for the information regarding the other treatment, but my husband has so many other health issues that the doctors cannot put him on other treatments without taking him out.  My husband has been battleing this cancer since 2003 and as I had mentioned in my other reply, he does not want to have anymore feel bad days.  He wants to feel as he does now for as long as he can.

God bless and take care!

Sandi

Hi Sandi,

I can't Thank You enough for your reply.  I wasn't on when you answered me.  I"ve been hoping for sometime that someone would be in the same situation as we are, and who would understand our way of handling the cancer.

We plan on doing just what your doing, and "Enjoy" each day, travel, and really enjoy every good day we have left together.  My husband was ready to go into Hospice, and so far, we're very glad we did, as they are wonderful and caring people.  We have a Great Team.  And...They're "Concerned with the "Caretaker As Well"

Please write to me when ever you feel the need, and I'll do the same.

Good Luck to you both,

Kaybel

Kaybel,

It's strange you should bring up hospice.  My husband and I were on our way back from visiting my mother and we were wondering if the doctors were going to call hospice in now.  I'm sure you are in the same situation as we are by not knowing how long we have left, but I would like for hospice to come in while they can get to know my husbands sence of humor (he's a nut).  They did that with my dad and it helped them know when he really was not feeling good.  Did the doctor call hospice for you and your husband?  We have an appointment on Friday and was going to ask. 

Sandi

Yes Sandi,

Our Dr.suggested, and got Hospice going for us.  I wanted them here with us, while my husband is feeling good, and still has a great sense of humor like your husband.  We had so many laughs already and have only been with Hospice since the 3rd of March.  We have a great team, and the nurse comes out once a week, the Dr will be here every 2 months.  It's a team of 4.  He has "Anything" he needs brought to our door.  They are so concerned about me too, which really makes me feel good and appreciated.  Sometimes people, family for sure kinda forgets just whose here 24/7 taking care of the patience's every need.

Good Luck Sandi to you and your husband, and  I wish you both only the very best whatever you both decide to do.

Please keep in touch and I'll do the same.

Sincerely, Kaybel

Kaybel,

I hope you received my private reply.  Let me know.

Sandi

Yes there are options!

The FAD had approved new medication for advanced kidney cancer made by the pharmaceutical company name Novaetis. The drug is  Afinitor [everolimus]. This drug is in phase III trail and received its approval as a second – line treatment when treatment has failed with sutunt [sunitinib] and nexavar[ sorafenib].

Afinitor is an oral mTOR [mammalian target of rapamycin] inhibitor that blocks cellular metabolism, growth, proliferation and angiogenesis.   

Novartis has filed for Afinitor for approval  in EU and Japan. According to an article in farmafocus, the same drug is used in EU  under the name of Certican  for the management of organ transplant rejection.

I hope this information helps you. I am sure that Novartis has a representative in USA i am sure they do. If not you can send an e-mail to the head quarter in Switzerland and many a time their representative will call you. I have experience with them already about a different drug.

Best of luck

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