Sutent

I have renal cancer and it has spread. Is anybody taking sutent and if so how has your response been. Is it reducting turmors like I have heard. Some say they have been cured from this drug. Does it work that well. What are you side effects?

Looking for answers,
Jim

Dear Jim,


Therre is a email support list specific to kideny cancer, and there are many listmembers who are taking Sutent and can answer your questions. Join it at http://cancerguide.org/kofaq/ .

See http://tinyurl.com/jfk8j for recent published research about Sutent treatment for kidney cancer.

I was diagnosed with renal cell and under went 2 surgeries--one to remove a kidney and one to remove part of my liver (about 5 months apart). After recovering from the second surgery I went on Sutent via a trial program with the University of Minnesota. After six treatments (28 days on and 14 days off) I was told that I had had a complete response to the drug with no sign of the tumors. Time will tell. I have been "cancer free" for 4 months and will have scans at 3 month intervals. Side effects are: flu like; rashes; diarea; mouth sores; fatigue and joint pain. Fatique was the most reoccuring and significant but certainly worth it. Good luck

My husband just started SUTENT this weeks after two years of being on l0 months Interferon, four Months Avastin five months Nexavar and now SUTENT. He has had three tumors in his pancreas and one in his intestine and one in his head that is now gone with using Stero Tatic Radio Surgery. The question I wanted to know was did your insurance pay for SUTENT? My husband just went on medicare Nov 15 of 2005 and we had to apply to the drug company for The NEXAVAR which he got and just as we got a new bottle we switched to SUTENT. Medicare and our Blue Cross Supplement did not pay and I had to pay the $6300.00 in order for him to start it now. I have since applied to the drug company for help. I have found out that the Medicare part d is not very good with cancer patients drugs. Am exploring getting something else also when the enrollment comes again. Thanks for your info.

BWells

We were lucky, our insurance company did pay for Sutent. However, after it was orinally approved my doctor did tell us that he had seen anything from full coverage to no coverage. We were not sure about our insurance and just took our chances. My doctor did say that Pfizer did have a program to help with costs if our insurannce company did not cover. Not sure what that meant since we never had to go that way. Good luck.

I was diagnosed with RCC with spread to lungs in March, kidney removed in April, and started Sutent in June. After cycle 2, CTscan showed tumor shrinkage by 30%. I'm currently in cycle 3. Side effects are managable however for me taste changes and mouth irritation makes eating a chore and unenjoyable. I also experience lower back (butt) pain that refers up the back. Ibuprofen largely relieves the pain but not totally. Have other experienced this with Sutent?

My husand is on day 9 of sutent and all is going well. He was on nexavar and had a major reaction so they switched him to sutent. He was on Intron A for 4 years and it worked well but things changed a couple of months ago so they suggested the nexavar and now sutent. We live in east coast Canada and are fortunate our insurance carrier pays for the drug 100% so we are lucky.

HI my boyfriend is on Sutent and started his second round yesterday. He had his kidney removed in september - he was diagnosed the week before with cancer - kidney, lung and adrenals. He too has complained that he has terrible taste in his mouth and lower back pain. He has always loved oysters but cant bear them now as no longer pleasurable to eat - also finds kissing unpleasant - unfortunately for me now - do you too find that? hard to understand and explain the things you are going through to another. I have only just found this site and will refer it to my boyfreind to use. He heard recently (mon 20th Nov) that there had been a program aired on national TV (we are in Perth Australia) regarding someone who took Sutent for renal and is now totally cured - has anyone else seen this story or know where to access it - my boyfriend is keen to know what this person did and how.