New, Confused, And Not Sure Where To Turn

Hi. My name is Susan and I am new here. My Mom was diagnosed with kidney cancer in Feb. 2004 and had the kidney removed. Then in Sep. 2005 she had a spot removed from the lung and was suspected metatasis. Things have been good until 2 weeks ago. Two weeks ago a CT scan showed numerous spots on the lung. We were in the process of having a PET scan done when yesterday she was rushed to the ER with severe pain in her leg and loss of movement in her arm and leg. The MRI is showing one metatasis in the brain. He stated that it is in a very operable location but it would be up to the oncologist to recommend surgery depending on the lungs. We are so confused tonight and not knowing what to think.

Does anyone know or had experience with treatment options for metatasis to both the lungs and the brain?? Is there any options or is this pretty much the end of the road. Up until now there has been no treatment other than the removal of the kidney and the one spot on the lung.

Any advice will be greatly appreciated.

Susan

The most important thing you need to do is make sure you have a kidney cancer SPECIALIST, no a regular oncologist. The new treatments for kidney cancer are not very well known by general oncologists. My mother has stage 4, and had mets to her lymph nodes between her lungs and numerous mets on her liver. She has done treatment with Nexavar, Avastin, and now Sutent. Nexavar worked very well for several months and then kind of hit a plateau, Avastin did not work for her at all, Sutent is what she is on now (which is very similar to Nexavar) and she will have a scan Dec 6 to see how well it is working. I know these treatments help with mets to lungs, but have not had to deal with any mets to the brain. But we have been researching a treatment that fries the tumors with radio frequency (RFA) ablation and I do know that can be done to mets on the brain. If you do not have a RCC specialist, I would highly recommend finding one ASAP. If you already have one, I would ask about any treatments that I mentioned that they havent tried thusfar...
I hope this helped at least a little. Let me know if i can be of any further help to you...
I would be glad to help any way I can
Casie

I have mets in both lungs, adrenal glands, liver,bone mets, and recently on the brain. Presently on the 7th cycle of Sutent. Aug. scans showed a new met on the lung and brain. other mets seem to be drying up. For the brain, I had Gamma Knife procedure on a 1cm met. 6th week follow-up showed it was reduced more than half along with the swelling. Gamma Knife is pin-point high intensity radiation right at the tumor. The rest of the brain only absorbed radiation amounting to 2 CT's. It's working really good for me so far. Have another MRI scheduled for 12/21 hoping for good news. I had my rt.kidney removed in 2000 and was fine for 4 yrs. CT's in 11/04 showed mets in both lungs, liver and adrenal gland so the last 2 yrs have been a roller-coaster ride. Interferon and Avastin didn't work very well but this Sutent has given me quality of life. Hope this message is helpful. God bless.