I was diagnosed with RCC on May 11th 2007 which also happens to be my 67 year birthday.Had my right kidney removed along with the 7.2 cm tumor.No identified matastizes, all margins were clear although the tumor had spread into the renal vein and therefore made me tp3b stage locally advanced cancer.My urologist/ surgeon indicated that although he felt that he had removed a 100% of the cancer macroscopically there was a high probability that the cancer could re-occur sometime if micro scopic cells had got into the blood stream.My lympth nodes were also all clear.He suggested that instead of doing a wait & see basis for the next 6 months until my next CT scan that he was aware of a major drug trial comparing Sutent,vs Nexavar vs placebo that was being conducted across North America.To be eligible I had to be deemed to be currently free.of any tumors or bone lesions.So have just gone through a new battery of tests: MUGA,ECG,blood tests,Bone scan, CT scan and based on these tests I am deemed to be currently still clear of the cancer and therefore eligible to be a candidate.
The trial is being conducted through Canada's premier cancer research hospital so am lucky enough to have one of the best medical teams looking after me while on the trial (54 weeks of treatment,9 -6 week sessions with bone scans, CT scans MUGA and blood tests during this period) followed with 9 year annual check -ups and scans as lond as I remain cancer free.I start my programme on August 22nd and neither my trial doctor/oncologist because it is a double blind trial know which drug or placebo I will be on.After reading many of the SE's of the these drugs from many of you on these drugs I am not looking forward to the coming year,but feel that taking a pro-active approach to my cancer is better than a wait and see basis for the cancer to re-occur.I was also wondering if there is any of you who might also be on this type of trial for long term survival? Will try and keep you posted on my next year of treatment.