On 4/26/2008
Terryjoe wrote:
Dear BeverlyW,
Check with your mother-in-law's oncologist about setting up a MUGA Scan soon. It is used to measure the effectiveness of the heart. One of the side effects of Sutent is that it can cause damage to the heart. The MUGA Scan will set up a baseline for the heart and with a second scan latter on in the treatment the oncologish can measure weather there is any damage to your mother-in-law's heart caused by the Sutent. I was on Sutent 50 mg for 12 cycles before it stopped working in February. I just took my 3rd dose of Avastin. A lot of different, no side effects so far. It is given by IV every 3 weeks. Good luck!
Terry
Terry,
Thank you for that info. I've got to call the dr's office this morning anyway, so I will add that to my list of questions. I am so grateful to all the people willing to share this kind of information. While I am still researching and learning, I don't feel like I have to re-invent the wheel! :-)
I am learning more about Sutent; I know a little about Nexavaar; now I see Avastin, so I guess I need to learn about that. From perusing some of this message board (Lord knows I haven't read all of it yet!), I gather that both Nexavar and Sutent are first line drugs for RCC. Is Avastin, as well? Her dr hasn't mentioned this one.
He is adamant that he will not put her back on Nexavar because it sent her BP through the roof and landed her in the ER with an uncontrolled nose bleed. She had only been on it for about 10 days at that time. He pulled her off of it and continued with radiation only. This was about 1 1/2 years ago, right after the discovery of the tumor and her surgery.
I have also seen several people say the Sutent stopped working for them, just like you mentioned. How does it stop working? Why does it stop working? I assume any tumors are continuing to grow and that is discovered through CTs. But why? Does the cancer become immune to the chemo, just like some infections become immune to anitbiotics? Do "they" (you know, the nebulous "they" that always seems to know something or be the expert on something) know? Is there any kind of known time frame that it stops working?
I know, lots of questions...... I'm just letting the questions flow from my mind and out through my fingers as they occur. My post is getting long, so I'll pause for now.
Beverly