New Kid on the Block

24

Comments

  • garym
    garym Member Posts: 1,647
    toolman1 said:

    9/19 update
    Met with "the MAN" today. Good news is the "Bone Scan" came back clear, no problems. However..... CT found 2 new, 2mm nodules in the lungs. The rest of the chest and midsection are same, no change. So on Friday 9/21 I will begin 6 infusions (1 per month) of Zometa, to choke off the blood supply to any/all cancerous nodules, and it looks like on Nov. 4th, that "NASTY" IL-2 treatment will begin, and yes Alice, I did read foxhd thread. There aren't any local clinical trials in the L.A area at this time. Hard to believe huh? The Dr. is watching the results of those trials carefully. He is SO on top of all the cutting edge stuff. He amazes us! Anyway, we're gonna ""throw the kitchen sink" at this GD disease!

    A BIG THANX, to all for the support. It's what keeps us ALL strong! Stay tuned.

    Kitchen sink et al...
    Gary,

    You have the medical team you trust, you have meds that yield results, you have options as time goes by, and you have a great attitude. In short, the toolman has the tools necessary to beat the crap outta RCC.

    Kick butt,

    Gary
  • toolman1
    toolman1 Member Posts: 44
    garym said:

    Kitchen sink et al...
    Gary,

    You have the medical team you trust, you have meds that yield results, you have options as time goes by, and you have a great attitude. In short, the toolman has the tools necessary to beat the crap outta RCC.

    Kick butt,

    Gary

    Started Zometa today
    9/24 Hello again everybody. I was scheduled to start the Zometa infusions last Friday, (9/21) however we were to go up the coast to some friends for the weekend, and I did not want to go through the possible nausea and other side effects associated with Zometa, so I actually started it Monday AM. The nice part was that the hospital included an injection of an anti nausea medication into the IV, as the Zometa was administered. Monday and Tuesday were a breeze, except for a very sleepless night on Monday. Wednesday AM was a whole new ball game. I felt as though I had gone through 12 rounds with Mike Tyson!! Sore muscles throughout my back, my neck felt as though I had whiplash from a car accident, and my hands felt as though I had a severe case of arthritis. I took several Tylenol's with only a slight relief, so I just put up with the pain. Today 9/27, the back and neck are better, however, the muscle pain has shifted to the right foot, and the hands still hurt. So, I'll stop with the sniveling, and just hope that this Zometa stuff performs as is should. Stay tuned.
  • Texas_wedge
    Texas_wedge Member Posts: 2,798
    toolman1 said:

    Started Zometa today
    9/24 Hello again everybody. I was scheduled to start the Zometa infusions last Friday, (9/21) however we were to go up the coast to some friends for the weekend, and I did not want to go through the possible nausea and other side effects associated with Zometa, so I actually started it Monday AM. The nice part was that the hospital included an injection of an anti nausea medication into the IV, as the Zometa was administered. Monday and Tuesday were a breeze, except for a very sleepless night on Monday. Wednesday AM was a whole new ball game. I felt as though I had gone through 12 rounds with Mike Tyson!! Sore muscles throughout my back, my neck felt as though I had whiplash from a car accident, and my hands felt as though I had a severe case of arthritis. I took several Tylenol's with only a slight relief, so I just put up with the pain. Today 9/27, the back and neck are better, however, the muscle pain has shifted to the right foot, and the hands still hurt. So, I'll stop with the sniveling, and just hope that this Zometa stuff performs as is should. Stay tuned.

    Pain side-effects
    Let's hope the pain signals the effectiveness of the treatment. That seems to have been the case with a number of people here, notably, of course, Fox.
  • garym
    garym Member Posts: 1,647
    toolman1 said:

    Started Zometa today
    9/24 Hello again everybody. I was scheduled to start the Zometa infusions last Friday, (9/21) however we were to go up the coast to some friends for the weekend, and I did not want to go through the possible nausea and other side effects associated with Zometa, so I actually started it Monday AM. The nice part was that the hospital included an injection of an anti nausea medication into the IV, as the Zometa was administered. Monday and Tuesday were a breeze, except for a very sleepless night on Monday. Wednesday AM was a whole new ball game. I felt as though I had gone through 12 rounds with Mike Tyson!! Sore muscles throughout my back, my neck felt as though I had whiplash from a car accident, and my hands felt as though I had a severe case of arthritis. I took several Tylenol's with only a slight relief, so I just put up with the pain. Today 9/27, the back and neck are better, however, the muscle pain has shifted to the right foot, and the hands still hurt. So, I'll stop with the sniveling, and just hope that this Zometa stuff performs as is should. Stay tuned.

    Started Zometa today
    Thanks for the update, I agree with Tex, the pain is just angry cancer cells being put to death. So hang in there Gary and we don't mind the sniveling at all, that's what we're here for.

    Screw RCC,

    Gary
  • Max Power
    Max Power Member Posts: 60
    toolman1 said:

    Started Zometa today
    9/24 Hello again everybody. I was scheduled to start the Zometa infusions last Friday, (9/21) however we were to go up the coast to some friends for the weekend, and I did not want to go through the possible nausea and other side effects associated with Zometa, so I actually started it Monday AM. The nice part was that the hospital included an injection of an anti nausea medication into the IV, as the Zometa was administered. Monday and Tuesday were a breeze, except for a very sleepless night on Monday. Wednesday AM was a whole new ball game. I felt as though I had gone through 12 rounds with Mike Tyson!! Sore muscles throughout my back, my neck felt as though I had whiplash from a car accident, and my hands felt as though I had a severe case of arthritis. I took several Tylenol's with only a slight relief, so I just put up with the pain. Today 9/27, the back and neck are better, however, the muscle pain has shifted to the right foot, and the hands still hurt. So, I'll stop with the sniveling, and just hope that this Zometa stuff performs as is should. Stay tuned.

    side effects?
    Hi Toolman -
    I've been taking Zometa (perhaps a different dosage?) for a couple of years now and with no side-effects, nor any mention of them. Your side-effect sound just like what happened to me when I got a myalgia from a anesthesia once - every muscle aching like I had just gone through a gymnastics obstacle course.

    As to Sutent side-effects, DON'T spend time reading people's side-effect blog websites, they are not representative as only people with bad side-effects contribute.

    I agree with your surprise at how pain-free the nephrectomy was. The day after I got mine my chest tube was bothering me and I was asked if I wanted pain medication. I asked "What pain medication am I getting now?" Answer: "None." ! A ten-inch scar with a partial rib removed to make room for my kidney removal, and without following pain. Amazing. Had I known it would have made the trepidation smaller I think.
  • Texas_wedge
    Texas_wedge Member Posts: 2,798
    Max Power said:

    side effects?
    Hi Toolman -
    I've been taking Zometa (perhaps a different dosage?) for a couple of years now and with no side-effects, nor any mention of them. Your side-effect sound just like what happened to me when I got a myalgia from a anesthesia once - every muscle aching like I had just gone through a gymnastics obstacle course.

    As to Sutent side-effects, DON'T spend time reading people's side-effect blog websites, they are not representative as only people with bad side-effects contribute.

    I agree with your surprise at how pain-free the nephrectomy was. The day after I got mine my chest tube was bothering me and I was asked if I wanted pain medication. I asked "What pain medication am I getting now?" Answer: "None." ! A ten-inch scar with a partial rib removed to make room for my kidney removal, and without following pain. Amazing. Had I known it would have made the trepidation smaller I think.

    Pain medication
    Strange game isn't it! I have a generally high pain threshhold but needed extreme levels of pain relief for days after my nephrectomy and only finally got off pain meds a month later. If I'd known how much pain I was in for I might have wanted to cancel the op!
  • toolman1
    toolman1 Member Posts: 44

    Pain medication
    Strange game isn't it! I have a generally high pain threshhold but needed extreme levels of pain relief for days after my nephrectomy and only finally got off pain meds a month later. If I'd known how much pain I was in for I might have wanted to cancel the op!

    HD IL-2 Upcoming
    10/20/12 8PM

    OK, and again Hi all. Spent the better part of the day @ USC Med. Ctr. w/ director of the cancer center, his staff, and the scheduling staff, making arrangements for a battery of EKG/stress test/scans/blood tests/PICC line insertion/ etc, etc. I'm gonna be there Wed. 10/31 from 7AM-7PM or longer. YUCH!! They scheduled me for admittance 11/4, to begin that wonderful treatment that so many of you have gone through. I am hoping to hear suggestions from Phoenix Rising/NanaLou//jam66 and all others re; expectations. The director hopes to see me make it to at least 9 infusions, and the more, the better. I already have a handle on the Ginger root thing, the Coca-Cola thing, a heating pad for the feet, to ward off the chills, and when to ask for injections to ward off nausia, sleeplessness, etc, and have pre-warned the wife of the same concerns. Any/all additional suggestions will be warmly accepted. FOX, you are the team leader here. Some words of wisdom would go a country mile about now! Thank You ALL! Gary
  • Texas_wedge
    Texas_wedge Member Posts: 2,798
    toolman1 said:

    HD IL-2 Upcoming
    10/20/12 8PM

    OK, and again Hi all. Spent the better part of the day @ USC Med. Ctr. w/ director of the cancer center, his staff, and the scheduling staff, making arrangements for a battery of EKG/stress test/scans/blood tests/PICC line insertion/ etc, etc. I'm gonna be there Wed. 10/31 from 7AM-7PM or longer. YUCH!! They scheduled me for admittance 11/4, to begin that wonderful treatment that so many of you have gone through. I am hoping to hear suggestions from Phoenix Rising/NanaLou//jam66 and all others re; expectations. The director hopes to see me make it to at least 9 infusions, and the more, the better. I already have a handle on the Ginger root thing, the Coca-Cola thing, a heating pad for the feet, to ward off the chills, and when to ask for injections to ward off nausia, sleeplessness, etc, and have pre-warned the wife of the same concerns. Any/all additional suggestions will be warmly accepted. FOX, you are the team leader here. Some words of wisdom would go a country mile about now! Thank You ALL! Gary

    HD IL-2 Upcoming
    Good luck with it Gary. I see you're doing sensible preparation and utilising the exc ellent resources available here in the form of first-class postings like Phoenix's. We have enormous advantages over the pioneers in being able to learn so much from others who've already trodden the same path.

    I'm waiting to hear whether I can fall in line a half-pace behind you and I've been garnering info in the same way as yourself in preparation. If not now, I'll be on Votrient from 3 days time and so I'm gathering info on that too. If it's Votrient I guess I'll have different things to worry about and will have to add to my dread of middle age, the further hazard of my hair turning white ;)
  • foxhd
    foxhd Member Posts: 3,181 Member
    toolman1 said:

    HD IL-2 Upcoming
    10/20/12 8PM

    OK, and again Hi all. Spent the better part of the day @ USC Med. Ctr. w/ director of the cancer center, his staff, and the scheduling staff, making arrangements for a battery of EKG/stress test/scans/blood tests/PICC line insertion/ etc, etc. I'm gonna be there Wed. 10/31 from 7AM-7PM or longer. YUCH!! They scheduled me for admittance 11/4, to begin that wonderful treatment that so many of you have gone through. I am hoping to hear suggestions from Phoenix Rising/NanaLou//jam66 and all others re; expectations. The director hopes to see me make it to at least 9 infusions, and the more, the better. I already have a handle on the Ginger root thing, the Coca-Cola thing, a heating pad for the feet, to ward off the chills, and when to ask for injections to ward off nausia, sleeplessness, etc, and have pre-warned the wife of the same concerns. Any/all additional suggestions will be warmly accepted. FOX, you are the team leader here. Some words of wisdom would go a country mile about now! Thank You ALL! Gary

    WOW
    ...or words of wisdom.........Boy, Gary, I have little to offer except, Good Luck! Il-2 may be in my future but I only know what you know. Everyone wonders how they will tolerate the treatment but they have no way to know for sure. I like to think that if it were me, that I would be able to gut it out and make it through the entire treatment series. If it were stopped it would be because the medical team stopped it, not me. Whenever I need to dig in and need fortitude, I do one of 2 things. Either I repeat a round of golf , shot by shot in my head, or I try to repeat running a marathon mile by mile. Visualizing the sights and sounds along the way. It allows me to find that place in my head where I can cope or retreat to with a positive result at the end. That's how I do it. My secret is out now.
  • Limelife50
    Limelife50 Member Posts: 476
    toolman1 said:

    HD IL-2 Upcoming
    10/20/12 8PM

    OK, and again Hi all. Spent the better part of the day @ USC Med. Ctr. w/ director of the cancer center, his staff, and the scheduling staff, making arrangements for a battery of EKG/stress test/scans/blood tests/PICC line insertion/ etc, etc. I'm gonna be there Wed. 10/31 from 7AM-7PM or longer. YUCH!! They scheduled me for admittance 11/4, to begin that wonderful treatment that so many of you have gone through. I am hoping to hear suggestions from Phoenix Rising/NanaLou//jam66 and all others re; expectations. The director hopes to see me make it to at least 9 infusions, and the more, the better. I already have a handle on the Ginger root thing, the Coca-Cola thing, a heating pad for the feet, to ward off the chills, and when to ask for injections to ward off nausia, sleeplessness, etc, and have pre-warned the wife of the same concerns. Any/all additional suggestions will be warmly accepted. FOX, you are the team leader here. Some words of wisdom would go a country mile about now! Thank You ALL! Gary

    Good Luck Gary
    It seems you got a great attitude going into this and i think thats half the battle,i will be pulling for you to be able to tolerate all 9 doses and also praying that this treatment is effective in ridding your body of this disease P.S Just a side note to Texas i hope you are able to get some long term results from your drug thearapy and along the way qaulify for the HD-IL2,oh and also have you ever considered shaving your head,just thought it might make you look a little more tough!!!!!!
  • Texas_wedge
    Texas_wedge Member Posts: 2,798

    Good Luck Gary
    It seems you got a great attitude going into this and i think thats half the battle,i will be pulling for you to be able to tolerate all 9 doses and also praying that this treatment is effective in ridding your body of this disease P.S Just a side note to Texas i hope you are able to get some long term results from your drug thearapy and along the way qaulify for the HD-IL2,oh and also have you ever considered shaving your head,just thought it might make you look a little more tough!!!!!!

    Image
    Grrrrr!!! You don't have to look like a Fox to be tough!
    Still needing to find out if starting Votrient would kill my chance for a shot at IL2. Any hard info anyone has on this point would be appreciated.
  • donna_lee
    donna_lee Member Posts: 1,041 Member

    Image
    Grrrrr!!! You don't have to look like a Fox to be tough!
    Still needing to find out if starting Votrient would kill my chance for a shot at IL2. Any hard info anyone has on this point would be appreciated.

    Just another encouraging word, or two
    Sorry there was mets when it was found, but 6 years out, I'm here to tell you that surgery and a baaaaaaad (that means positively good) attitude will get you a long way.
    Keep on going.
    Donna
  • alice124
    alice124 Member Posts: 896 Member
    toolman1 said:

    HD IL-2 Upcoming
    10/20/12 8PM

    OK, and again Hi all. Spent the better part of the day @ USC Med. Ctr. w/ director of the cancer center, his staff, and the scheduling staff, making arrangements for a battery of EKG/stress test/scans/blood tests/PICC line insertion/ etc, etc. I'm gonna be there Wed. 10/31 from 7AM-7PM or longer. YUCH!! They scheduled me for admittance 11/4, to begin that wonderful treatment that so many of you have gone through. I am hoping to hear suggestions from Phoenix Rising/NanaLou//jam66 and all others re; expectations. The director hopes to see me make it to at least 9 infusions, and the more, the better. I already have a handle on the Ginger root thing, the Coca-Cola thing, a heating pad for the feet, to ward off the chills, and when to ask for injections to ward off nausia, sleeplessness, etc, and have pre-warned the wife of the same concerns. Any/all additional suggestions will be warmly accepted. FOX, you are the team leader here. Some words of wisdom would go a country mile about now! Thank You ALL! Gary

    IL-2
    This is probably something you have already picked up, but the biggest demon for John in the IL2 treatment was pruritis. The itching and rash and peeling was horrendous for him. I think it was Phoenix Rising who recommended tons of moisturizing prior to the start of the treatment. I know John had read it and said he wished he had seen it prior to starting treatment because anything to keep it at bay is worthwhile. Pruritis made him miserable and robbed him of sleeping and rest, which prolonged his recovery.

    I'd also say not to get too focused on the number of infusions. I've heard just as many success stories with dosages of less than the maximum. Are 14 doses still the maximum? I know they want you in the higher range, but listen to your body. Higher doses do not exactly mean success. John received 14 doses during his first round and 10 in the second and it wasn't a success story for him. Yet I've heard of others with a response with only 7 or 8 doses per round.

    Good luck to you. I hope you can keep us updated on your progress. We're in your corner.
  • NanaLou
    NanaLou Member Posts: 71
    donna_lee said:

    Just another encouraging word, or two
    Sorry there was mets when it was found, but 6 years out, I'm here to tell you that surgery and a baaaaaaad (that means positively good) attitude will get you a long way.
    Keep on going.
    Donna

    Hey Gary
    I would also take with you some cough drops or hard candy. I developed a cough and very watery eyes both times on my way home. If it happens to you, you can take Benadryl. It helps , hopefully you won't get this side effect. Take some snacks with you. What ever you like to eat that is light on the stomach. I took jello and crakers. I did not eat much of it, but it is better to have it there than not have it. Because the Hospital food is bad. Drank plenty of water in the Hospital and when you get home. After the first round I wan't hungry when I got home for several days. I think not eating very much is why it took so long for me to feel better. It is a rough treatment, but it can be done. I did it. I am still itching, and my last treatment was on teh 7th. I hope you are already putting the lotion on now. They should give you some really good lotions in teh hospital. I wish you good luck and send many prayers your way. Keep us posted. I go back for my scans in December and get the results on 12-12-12. I hope the date is good luck!
  • one putt
    one putt Member Posts: 72

    Image
    Grrrrr!!! You don't have to look like a Fox to be tough!
    Still needing to find out if starting Votrient would kill my chance for a shot at IL2. Any hard info anyone has on this point would be appreciated.

    IL2 After Votrient
    Tex,
    Alice and I have been racking our brains trying to remember our first visit to my oncologist because of conflicting information on this site.To the best of our recollection the conversation went something like this.He told me I picked a good time to get kidney cancer.At the time I didn't really understand or appreciate this remark,but I certainly do now.He laid out many treatment options,writing them down on a piece of paper.Among them were IL2,MDX-1106,and targeted kidney cancer drugs like Sutent and Votrient.He told me that IL2 treatment was Draconian,and that many hospitals refused to do it for that reason and the risk of death that comes with it.The doctor also said if I elected IL2 it would have to be my first treatment option.He said it wouldn't be available to me if I opted for another treatment first.I'm not sure if this is just the protocol at Johns Hopkins,but I seem to recall him saying IL2 wouldn't be effective if I tried another treatment first.That made my decision to try IL2 first easy,since it was my only chance for a total cure.
    I know this seems to contradict what some some others have writen on this site,but that's the way we remember it.I plan to ask my research nurse tomorrow about the effectiveness of IL2
    after other treatment options,and will let you know her response.
    Stay well fight on.You remain in our prayers.
    John
  • toolman1
    toolman1 Member Posts: 44
    alice124 said:

    IL-2
    This is probably something you have already picked up, but the biggest demon for John in the IL2 treatment was pruritis. The itching and rash and peeling was horrendous for him. I think it was Phoenix Rising who recommended tons of moisturizing prior to the start of the treatment. I know John had read it and said he wished he had seen it prior to starting treatment because anything to keep it at bay is worthwhile. Pruritis made him miserable and robbed him of sleeping and rest, which prolonged his recovery.

    I'd also say not to get too focused on the number of infusions. I've heard just as many success stories with dosages of less than the maximum. Are 14 doses still the maximum? I know they want you in the higher range, but listen to your body. Higher doses do not exactly mean success. John received 14 doses during his first round and 10 in the second and it wasn't a success story for him. Yet I've heard of others with a response with only 7 or 8 doses per round.

    Good luck to you. I hope you can keep us updated on your progress. We're in your corner.

    IL-2 continued
    John;(One Putt wrote);
    "The doctor also said if I elected IL2 it would have to be my first treatment option.He said it wouldn't be available to me if I opted for another treatment first.I'm not sure if this is just the protocol at Johns Hopkins,but I seem to recall him saying IL2 wouldn't be effective if I tried another treatment first.That made my decision to try IL2 first easy,since it was my only chance for a total cure".

    John, I was told the same from the director, and the resultant complication could be a massive heart attack if it was attempted, in the wrong order of treatments! That was enough for my wife and I. IL-2 it is, so that is where we are gonna start. I thank each and every one of you for the support, suggestions, and concern. We will be fine, and although I'm not inclined to add to this thread from the hospital, I will send an update when the demons have cleared from my head, after I'm released from the "psych ward"! LOL!!
  • Texas_wedge
    Texas_wedge Member Posts: 2,798
    one putt said:

    IL2 After Votrient
    Tex,
    Alice and I have been racking our brains trying to remember our first visit to my oncologist because of conflicting information on this site.To the best of our recollection the conversation went something like this.He told me I picked a good time to get kidney cancer.At the time I didn't really understand or appreciate this remark,but I certainly do now.He laid out many treatment options,writing them down on a piece of paper.Among them were IL2,MDX-1106,and targeted kidney cancer drugs like Sutent and Votrient.He told me that IL2 treatment was Draconian,and that many hospitals refused to do it for that reason and the risk of death that comes with it.The doctor also said if I elected IL2 it would have to be my first treatment option.He said it wouldn't be available to me if I opted for another treatment first.I'm not sure if this is just the protocol at Johns Hopkins,but I seem to recall him saying IL2 wouldn't be effective if I tried another treatment first.That made my decision to try IL2 first easy,since it was my only chance for a total cure.
    I know this seems to contradict what some some others have writen on this site,but that's the way we remember it.I plan to ask my research nurse tomorrow about the effectiveness of IL2
    after other treatment options,and will let you know her response.
    Stay well fight on.You remain in our prayers.
    John

    IL2 After Votrient
    John, that's very kind of you.

    You make a good point about whether it might be a local rule at JHH. My Wife reminds me that there's a world of difference between what's necessary for trial design purposes (for statistical breakout etc.) and what's determined by biochemical issues. She doubts that there would be biological grounds for an embargo, other than the likelihood of being too debilitated by unsuccessful Votrient treatment to be able to take the Draconian IL 2 regimen (especially at 70+). If that's correct it would possibly leave me OK since both treatments would be outwith the context of trials and hence immune from any design constraints.

    I look forward to the answer you receive and must thank you again for taking the trouble. I'm glad you've done so well on your trial and I still think the prior IL 2 treatment may have been instrumental in facilitating the gains you are enjoying now.
  • I am alive
    I am alive Member Posts: 315

    Image
    Grrrrr!!! You don't have to look like a Fox to be tough!
    Still needing to find out if starting Votrient would kill my chance for a shot at IL2. Any hard info anyone has on this point would be appreciated.

    IL2 for chromophobe?
    Tex,
    My onc told me that IL2 is not effective for chromophobe. Does your sarcamatoid complication change that?
  • one putt
    one putt Member Posts: 72

    IL2 After Votrient
    John, that's very kind of you.

    You make a good point about whether it might be a local rule at JHH. My Wife reminds me that there's a world of difference between what's necessary for trial design purposes (for statistical breakout etc.) and what's determined by biochemical issues. She doubts that there would be biological grounds for an embargo, other than the likelihood of being too debilitated by unsuccessful Votrient treatment to be able to take the Draconian IL 2 regimen (especially at 70+). If that's correct it would possibly leave me OK since both treatments would be outwith the context of trials and hence immune from any design constraints.

    I look forward to the answer you receive and must thank you again for taking the trouble. I'm glad you've done so well on your trial and I still think the prior IL 2 treatment may have been instrumental in facilitating the gains you are enjoying now.

    IL2 After Votrient Part 2
    Tex,
    I spoke to my research nurse today about IL2 after Votrient.She told me my oncologist would be the one to ask as to why he insisted on IL2 first.Unfortunately, I don't see him again until February.However,she did say IL2 was considered a "first line"treatment option.Typically,patients are at their strongest at this point(less debilatated from other treatments)and more able to withstand the harshness of the IL2 treatment.In addition,she offered that pazopanib,sunitinib, and others in the TKI family of drugs,are cardio-toxic.This could increase the likelihood of a heart attack if IL2 is administered after a TKI drug.I hope this helps you in some small way.
    Best Always,
    John
  • Texas_wedge
    Texas_wedge Member Posts: 2,798

    IL2 for chromophobe?
    Tex,
    My onc told me that IL2 is not effective for chromophobe. Does your sarcamatoid complication change that?

    IL2 for chromophobe?
    Here's hoping we now have the chance to find out! Did your onc cite authority for that proposition? If not, why not? Maybe you could ask her/him. I doubt whether there's enough data on IL2 for chromophobes to support such a bald pronouncement.

    We do know that sarcomatous change makes chromophobe more amenable to intervention by chemo; whether the same might apply to IL2 we can't tell. However, we do have evidence that schRCC shows a promising response to Votrient. One of the mainstays on KIDNEY-ONC has sent me a paper in which this was demonstrated in a lady of 82 who had had a rad. neph, plus distal pancreatectomy, splenectomy and retroperitoneal lymph node dissection! [Tough old lady!]

    So, one lives in hope. I hope that if I get the IL2 chance my body doesn't wimp out.