Nexavar

My mom was diagnosed with kidney cancer 2 years ago, just by conincidence she was in a car wreck and they did a cat scan. The kidney was removed and all looked good. 2 years later y conincidence she went to the doctors for a bladder infection. They sent her for a scan and she was diagnosed with recurrent kidney cancer in the lungs. She could not take IL2 and is currently taking nexavar. SHe is very tired and losing her hair. She had hand and foot syndrome 3 weeks ago. SHe has been on it for about 5 weeks. Does anyone have any success stories about nexavar?
Thanks.

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

My mother was diagnosed a year ago with RCC spread to the liver and lymph nodes in her lungs. She has been on Nexavar for about 6 months. She has had shrinkage of ALL of the tumors and is now down to only having 2 small tumors on her liver. They might need to do a half dose for her. My mother only does half. One in the morning and one at night. The hand and foot sores are sometimes relieved by soaking in epsom salt morning and night. THey should go away shortly. My mom takes B6 and B12 for energy, and it seems to help. Nexavar is a new drug and they are not exactly sure of what dosage works best with all people, so half dose may be an option, it does reduce the side effects. I wish you the same luck we have had with this medicine and this disease. If there is anything I can help you with, please don't hesitate to ask...

Thanks for your input. It is nice to hear people who are succeeding with Nexavar. I know the entire family lately has been wondering if the drug works or not. My mom seems to be getting every possible side effect there is. She is currently taking the full dose, but was just on half a dose for abour 2 weeks. Thanks again. I wish you and your mom well.

My husband has been on Nexavar for four 1/2 months. After only seven weeks his three tumors in his pancreas shrank 10% and the one in his intestine shrank 10%. He no longer has the hand foot syndrome. someone that was in the clinical trial told him to take one tablet ginger root am and pm. Since he has been taking it he has had no problem. The side effects come and go and are different all the time but he is fatiqued. Also had cough for three weeks but went away. We have scan next week and will keep you posted.

Bwells

I was on a Nexavar clinical trial at M D Anderson for 5 months. It really didn't do much to stop my cancer which has matastisized to my lungs. And, my quality of life was terrible!

About 8 weeks ago, they started a new treatment on me using a "chemo cocktail" of 3 drugs. Avastin, Gemzar by IV drip and Xloda orally twice a day.

My quality of life has improved dramatically. I've gained 18 lbs., I nearly look and feel like I did before cancer diagnosis. And, the radiologist who read my latest scan said that all my tumors had decreased 1 CM or more in size and there were no new tumors! Plus many of the tumors were showing signs of necrosis, or cell death!

So, right now anyway, I'm happy!