renal cell cancer

My mother was diagnosed last Thursday with clear cell cancer of the left kidney with mets into the live, bladder and esophagus.  They want to see how agresive the cancer is before treating.  She is 80. They are doing a bone scan.  I am a nurse and she had a small spot on her kidney in January 2009 and now we are here by Oct.  What does anyone think about tratment options at this stage......thanx

On Oct 22, 2009 5:40 PM crabynurse wrote:

My mother was diagnosed last Thursday with clear cell cancer of the left kidney with mets into the live, bladder and esophagus.  They want to see how agresive the cancer is before treating.  She is 80. They are doing a bone scan.  I am a nurse and she had a small spot on her kidney in January 2009 and now we are here by Oct.  What does anyone think about tratment options at this stage......thanx

Hi,

My husband was dianosed in July 2009 with stage 4 advanced RCC. Large tumor in 1 kidney and mets on his lungs. They also said he had some on his stomach and liver but after a scope and biospy they came back benign. We have done some sutent pills with almost no side affects except with his heart because he also takes coumadin for leg blood clots. They have now changed him to Torisel and we took the first IV dose this past Tues. He did good and so far it has not phased him. We will have a CT scan in a month. He only takes Torisel once a week.

I think your mother has a very good chance of doing good on one of the pill chemos or Torisel. It is sure worth trying. We are trying to learn to live with cancer and enjoying what time we have left. We were totally in the dark when we found out but through much reading and having a daughter in law that is a RN we are learning daily. God love you and your mother. Micki

Your Mom seems to have a fairly agressive fastmoving form of RCC.The side effects of Sutent and the other drugs used for RCC can be very debilitating and quite painful.  My Mom died at age September 4 after a two year battle with RCC. She tried every treatment available. I would suggest going with the palllitive treatment that would give your Mom the best quality of life.

Hi, Sutent or Nexavar are two options for your mum. Some people have bad reations to either but others, like me have none. I have been on Sutent for 13 months, not only did it reduce all mets to <1cm, it has enabled me to surf, fish, golf, run, swim and do karate every week.

I have a naturapath who works on my immune system and that has made a world of difference.

Sutent only has a limited lifespan in ones body and this seems to be anywhere from 12months to 6 years. Look up the Phizer web side and it will give you the side effects but as I said, with the correct nutrition and supplements, I have been able to errdicate them.

cheers Tim