Kidney Cancer Stage Iv

Anyone currently receiving treatments...Anyone survived same??

I was on Interferon A for 9 mos. Now on Thalomid.

My mother was on Vinblastine (didn't work for her), then tried Interluken and Interferon combined series (could not cope with the side-effects), moved on to thalomid (also did not work for her, plus developed an legric reaction to it), went back to trying only Interluken 2 - so far tumor is stable.

Hi Just got the message. My husband has stage IV kidney cancer specifically renal cell carcinoma. He is being treated with a drug called proleukin. It seems to have slowed the progression but has not stopped it. We are trying so hard to find what else we can do. Any ideas?

Go to this site and sign up for the Mail List and you will be able to talk to more than 800 individuals with kidney cancer and share their experiences. They also have a fantastic archive that you can search to get information on specific treatments.
http://cancerguide.org/kofaq/

Hello:
My husband has renal cancer and was operated on last April. He treated with interferon for 6 months and it slowed the leisons on the liver. In December '02, the doctor put him on thalidomide. Next month we will know if it has been effective. Also looking for suggestions for alternate treatments.

My brother is 41 and was diagnosed last year in March. At that time he had his right kidney removed, however, he was already Stage III and is now Stage IV. Currently he treats with a Renal Cancer specialist at the UPCI (University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute) Hillman Cancer Center. They are very good and having worked in Health Care myself for over 25 years, I did my homework immediately. At any rate, he is now on Thalidomide every day (100 mg.) and Vinblastine. So far the metastases to his lung (via the lymphatic system of course, a lymph node!) is stable. He has received two full cycles and actually we are going back tomorrow for repeat CT scans, which are done every 2 months, to compare to baseline scans and check for status of disease. So far, so good. We all pray a lot and I believe very much in prayer as the Man up above has the final word regardless of anything. They are finding new treatments every day with this devastating disease. I know the side effects are not pleasant for the more aggressive treatment, but if he has to go that route, he is willing to try whatever he must. The Cancer Compass is great as are the people at the Cancer Treatment Centers of America. Had we been able to travel, I would have chosen them although we do have excellent facilities here in Pittsburgh. This facility is brand new and rated 11th in the country and climbing!!

I would appreciate your input also and I will relay this info to my brother and if it's okay with him, I will give him your e-mail address. Thank you and may God Bless. I will keep you in my prayers.

Sharyn (Yannone) S.

I responded earlier to your question, but just realized that you may not have been notified as my response didn't go directly to you. I have Stage III Renal Cell Carcinoma and have found an incredible amount of info regarding treatments at the Kidney-Onc Mail List. Go to this site to sign up for the Mail List and you will be able to talk to more than 800 individuals with kidney cancer and share their experiences. They also have a fantastic archive that you can search to get information on specific treatments. http://cancerguide.org/kofaq/

My mother was diagnosed in May 2001. Had right kidney removed and all seemed good until August 2002. Started coughing up blood and CAT scan showed tumors in her lungs. Tried Interleukin in Sept & Oct 2002. Found out in December 2002 that it did not work, the cancer had increased in lungs and spread to liver. Now they, Loyola Med Ctr in Chicago, wants to put her in a stem cell transplant study. Her sister is a match. Currently going thru tests to see of she qualifies. She's not sure if she wants to do it or not. What does everyone else think?

My husband, Danny Girard was diagnosed with Renal Cell C., in April 2001. It had spread to his lungs. He had his kidney removed that June, and then began in the fall with Interleukin/Interferon combination. It shrunk the tumors in his lungs 1/3 in the first month, and some the second month, but none in the next two months. The next spring, they tried him on Thalomid with no success, because he had to have such a low dose to avoid the tingling side effects. Last summer (2002) the doctors mentioned possibly trying stem cell replacement, so they tested his siblings for a match. One sister, Kathy, was a perfect match, and very willing. However, the drs. felt Danny was too thin and weak (down to 140 lbs. from 210 lbs.) to try it then.

They decided to put him on Chemo!?!! to try to buy him some time to get stronger while holding back the tumors. All that did was make him nauseous and lose more weight every week. Then! He had a seizure at a very stressful occasion, which could have been precipitated by the Chemo (Gemcitabine), which was combined with Floruoracil. Now he is on Dilantin to prevent more seizures. There is a fine line between living with Dilantin without getting dizzy, and taking enough to hold back further seizures. The original dose (100mg X 3/day) was too low and he had a seizure the Saturday before Christmas. He was hospitalized for three days, rehydrated and received five pints of blood. Thank God he was home for Christmas. We had a very quiet holiday week. Our 4 children, ages 24 to 14, the oldest being a boy, were able visit relatives on their own. More to come (with God's help). Pat