Mazzy Husband on Day 2 of Sutent

Hi Guys Day 2 and nothing however I don't think we will know anything for a while yet. Keep your fingers crossed for him. It took a week before anything happened on nexavar. Hubby has a very positive attitude and that is half the battle. It just feels different this time on sutent. Much more information about sutent and of course you guys here on the board are great. Well Willard how did you make out at the doctor? Ready to start cycle 2? Keep us all posted. Bunker what is new with you other than playing with little Bunker??? Talk to you soon. Mazzy

Hi folks, This is my Day 2 on my second Sutent treatment. Went to the doctor on Thursday and since my white blood cells are fine, it was a go for me to begin my second trial on this drug. I have Malox on hand in case my stomach begins to act up this time and doctor advised I could take Zantac if I need it for heartburn or stomach pains. I am going to take my pill earlier in the evening on this round since I will have more food intake at that time, rather than wait until bedtime. I was not nauseated during my first trial, so I don't anticipate that happening this time either. Everyone is different, so not to worry if your hubby does feel a litle nauseated. He can get something from his doctor for that. I was prescribed Metocloprimide - 10mg in case I would need it, but still in my cupboard. Good luck now with your first seried. They told me that any side effects won't probably begin until around 2 weeks, but then again everyone is different so it's hard to judge. Stay positive as that is half of the battle. I'm rooting for you and if there's any questions, just ask if I can be of any help I'm here. Have a great weekend everyone! Willard

My husband just finished his first cycle of Sutent and is in the 14 day part of the cycle. I thought the nausea would go away at least until he started the 2nd cycle. He tried some pills for nausea but it really didn't help much. One thing I would like to know, when do you take the Sutent pill, my husband takes it in the morning, but I have read some letters that say some of the people take it at night, I wonder if that would work better or not. Any advise, I could use some. Thanks

Sorry to hear that your husband experienced alot of nausea. I recently finished my first 28 day cycle of Sutent and my doctor advised I take it just before bedtime, just in case I might get nauseated and then I'd be too sleepy to notice. It probably worked, as I did not have any nausea only a bad stomach during week 4 with lots of heartburn and some pain on occasion. Now I'm on day 3 of my second cycle and I'm watching carefully just what I eat...no fried foods, spicy foods or deep fried. I'm also going to take the pill a little earlier this time, maybe around 9:00 and eat more just before bed to provide a better lining for my stomach for the pill to absorb. Keep in touch and I wish your husband all the best! Lots of good people on here to help everyone. Willard

Well it is day 4 and not much to say. WOOHOO Willard cycle 2. Hang in big guy you are an insperation. Doris Joe started taking his pill at lunch time. He already has a bad stomach and finds if he takes meds at night he ends up with heartburn so he is trying to head this drug off at the pass. He never had any nausea or heartburn on nexavar so he is hoping the same will be with sutent. We will be releived when we get to day 14 and get half way there. He is very positive with sutent and had a much better attitude so here is hoping. Where is Bunker? haven't heard from him in a while. Must be off playing with baby Bunker. LOL Hang in Doris and keep us posted. Willard I look forward to hearing from you. Where is Lisa as well. Okay guys come back. Talk to you soon Mazzy

Thank you for your advise, I told my husband to try and take the Sutent at night instead of in the morning, but he said he was afraid he would have more nausea and not be able to sleep. Sounds like it didn't keep you awake. He has an appointment with his Doctor next Tuesday so I will ask them and then maybe or rather hopefully they will tell him to take it at night. Also maybe get something for that nausea feeling.

Hang in Doris. I think it is like a game and you have to keep playing till you find out what works for you. My husband takes it at 11am like I told you and then has a light supper however is getting heartburn in the middle of the night so go figure. Oh well the sale of Tums will go up LOL Keep us posted. Mazzy

Hi Mary, yes I do play with little Bunker everyday and I always take time to read all of the postings. You guys all seem to be doing just GREAT and I'll certainly churp in when I have something to contribute. In the meantime just know that I'm watching (I mean reading) so be kind to Willard.

You can become our "Peeker" Bunker. Peek in and comment on anything that you think will help. Don't leave us you are a wealth of knowledge. I do have a question - how many cycles did you take before you stopped sutent? will you go back on it if there is any changes in your condition? Willard sounds like he doing great WOOHOO Keep us posted. Keeping all of you in my thoughts and prayers. Talk to you soon. Mazzy

Good morning Mary, I will always be around and I view the message board daily. I've tried to focus my time on new postings and people going through this journey for the first time. We've all been there. For such a "rare" disease it's amazing how many people have found this website looking for help. A "peeker"? I'll cherish my new title!! To answer your question: I took a total of six treatment cycles. After the second treatment my tumors showed no metabolic activity with the PET scan which in layman's terms means that they were dead. Treatment three was just to make sure. Then we had a decision to make and we tried to keep it logical. All along we (me, my wife and my doctor) felt that it was a good approach to stay on Sutent via the trial until it got FDA approval. The logic was that if I went off the drug, I would have to leave the trial and if this was before FDA approval I would not have access to Sutent. So the last three treatments were really just trying to buy time until approval. This was a little risky in that no one really knows the long term effects (if any) of taking Sutent since it was and is so new. The second part was that it became harder and harder for me to mentality justify the side effects knowing that Sutent had already done it's job. All in all though we stayed with it partially because I really wanted Sutent to chase down any "free floating" cancer cells in my body and partially because the risk of not having access to Sutent, if needed, was too great. In the end, after six treatments (and FDA approval)we chose to stop the treatments. The logic then was that Sutent has done it's job; it was FDA approved; and if my RCC came back I could go back on Sutent at any time. We maintained our logic. To answer your last question, yes I would go back on Sutent in a heartbeat if my RCC returns unless enough time has gone by to where there were even better drugs available. My attitude is that my RCC is gone but if not, it has bought me more time for additional medical break throughs. We're covered either way. Hope this helps and I'll be watching. Have a great day.