Sutent and quality of life

My brother is to start sutent for stage 4 kidney cancer.  Kidney removed Feb. 09 and doctor's thought they got it all.  Now has spread to the sigmoid sinus and lymph nodes in chest, (which I am to understand is rare) and to lymph nodes in chest. The sinus tumor is vascular in nature. 

He is told life expectancy is 4-6 months without treatment. 

He is very concerned about the side effects of sutent and quality of life.  Is anyone on sutent able to continue working? From what I read here, it sounds like most people on chemo sit home. 

Please anyone on chemo, can you tell me about side effects and if you are able to live your life like you used to... before diagnosis?

Blessings!

Lilyislove

Our mother passed away from lung cancer in 2008 and it seemed that once she started on chemo, she never felt well enough to leave the house again.  This scares my brother.

I just finished my 24th cycle of sutent.  I am retired and I do not think I could have kept working due to the side effects. But if the sutent works for your brother, he can learn to deal with most of the side effects.  It is not fun, but I am still kicking!

On Apr 14, 2012 5:33 PM Lilyislove wrote:

My brother is to start sutent for stage 4 kidney cancer.  Kidney removed Feb. 09 and doctor's thought they got it all.  Now has spread to the sigmoid sinus and lymph nodes in chest, (which I am to understand is rare) and to lymph nodes in chest. The sinus tumor is vascular in nature. 

He is told life expectancy is 4-6 months without treatment. 

He is very concerned about the side effects of sutent and quality of life.  Is anyone on sutent able to continue working? From what I read here, it sounds like most people on chemo sit home. 

Please anyone on chemo, can you tell me about side effects and if you are able to live your life like you used to... before diagnosis?

Blessings!

Lilyislove

Our mother passed away from lung cancer in 2008 and it seemed that once she started on chemo, she never felt well enough to leave the house again.  This scares my brother.

Hi,

How old is your brother?

I don't really like the 'life expectancy' thing.  I was 71, stage IV, RCC with mets to the lungs.  I was put on Sutent 50 mg, and later told to get my afairs in order.

Yes, Sutent has side effects while it is killing the cancer.

Without treatment, the cancer is going to take it's toll on quality of life.

If your brother wants to live, he has no other choice; it is either be treated and have hope and faith for a cure; or suffer the consequence. 

I hope he will have a positive attitude, stay strong in mind, body and soul and have hope and faith for brighter days ahead.

Prayers and blessings,

B

I am on my 13 th cycle of Sutent . For me there is no way I could work a full time job effectively. I am otherwise healthy . The main side effect is fatigue in the 3rd-4th week. The other side effects of sore mouth and decreased appetite are manageable. If I you had a job which allowed you an afternoon nap it might work out. Also, side effects are different reason to person .....hopefully yours will be so minor so as not to interfere with working. Good luck Alan Leon Stage 4 Nephrectomy 2006 HD-IL2 2009.... Not successful Crypt lagoon and RFA lung rumors 2009-2010 Stereoscopic radii action treatment 2 brain lesions 2010 Sutent 37.5mg, 4 on/2 off, since 2010

I have been on Sutent two separate times, the first time for a year and a half, the second time for nine months. I took 37.5 mg and both times the tumor (which is RCC in the pancreas) shrank enough to stop taking it! The first time the tumor was 10 cm and shrank to an undetermined size. This last time it started at 3.5 cm and shrank down to 2 cm. I have a CT scan next week whih will determine whether I need to start back on Sutent again. The side effects are not great...very tender feet, very tender mouth and tongue, upset stomach and fatigue...but the outcome has been good, so I hang in there. I teach school and have not missed a day because of the side effects! Hope this helps!

My husband was on Sutent, 4 weeks on and 2 weeks off,  for 18 months and continued to work full time. The side effects, while not pleasant, were manageable. Mostly diarrhea, sore feet and fatigue and altered taste of foods.

Sorry but Sutent did not help me, little sideeffects the tumors were gone before sutent ds with rcc 1/11, kidney removed 12/10, anyway this is diff chemo, i did things and do things i have aggressive rcc and tumor in lungs after ds and chemo also got in lymphs after ds i don't know how long i have and i keep on taking chemo every other week but sutent was not for me i look at stories of how long others had on this med and pray i have long time on chemos i'm offered few choices for me Pray and God will say what is his will trust in Him also try St Pellegrine and Our Lady of Fatima and children. I had hours in 1210

I have been on Sutent since Jan./09, 50 mg. & still continue to work.  I have had & still have many side effects but can tolerate most & have not missed any work.  Best of luck to your brother.

On Apr 17, 2012 2:07 AM encodir wrote:

I have been on Sutent two separate times, the first time for a year and a half, the second time for nine months. I took 37.5 mg and both times the tumor (which is RCC in the pancreas) shrank enough to stop taking it! The first time the tumor was 10 cm and shrank to an undetermined size. This last time it started at 3.5 cm and shrank down to 2 cm. I have a CT scan next week whih will determine whether I need to start back on Sutent again. The side effects are not great...very tender feet, very tender mouth and tongue, upset stomach and fatigue...but the outcome has been good, so I hang in there. I teach school and have not missed a day because of the side effects! Hope this helps!

Thanks, reading your story gives me a little hope that when I start Sutent it might be possible to still keep working.

hi there.. my hubby was diagnosed in2004 and had his kidney removed.. he started sutent 2.5 years ago and he is still working full time and the drug is still working for him.. we have managed the side effects well, and we have not stopped doing anything that we had done prior to.. we do not sit home, we continue with everything we did before.. we know how he will feel the last few days to a week and adjust his eating, etc.. he is on 50mg 14 days on 7 off.. so keep your spirits high.. it helps!!