The war rages on, but a battle is won (Good news)

vdm13
vdm13 Member Posts: 47
Hello, friends. Today I had my first CT scan since starting on Sutent (2 cycles). (Background - 42yo male, Stage 4/Grade 4 mRCC to lungs, thoracic spine, rt kidney. Radical neph on left kidney/adrenal 5/25/12). Here's the update, and quotes are lifted directly from the scan report. "Significant improvement" of the lung mets, and "many lesions are no longer seen". Nodules in the rt lower and central left lobes are "no longer seen". Remaining nodule is reduced by approx 60%. The mass along the spine shows "significant improvement" with a reduction in size from 1.9x1.9cm to 1x0.7cm. Rt adrenal gland mass decreased from 4.9x2.8cm to 2.3x1.3cm. And my favorite one, regarding my remaining rt kidney: "The right renal masses are no longer seen."

Plan is to continue on Sutent. Next Scan in 10 weeks. Many thanks to the wonderful people on this board, to Gerry Wright (MAARS!). Keep your chin up. Fight the good fight. I want everyone to share in my win here, and keep the positive energy flowing as we all wage our war. We can win!!!

All the best,
Vin
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Comments

  • tacyarts
    tacyarts Member Posts: 73
    Awesome
    That is excellent news, wow I am so happy and encouraged with your report. I am currently taking sutent and a combination mdx 1106 combo trial and have yet to have any scans yet. Your fantastic news justs lifts the spirits with hope. I am very happy for you!!
  • ShaggyHD
    ShaggyHD Member Posts: 22
    Congrats!
    on the good news!
  • angec
    angec Member Posts: 924 Member
    Great News !
    Vin that is awesome!! Can you tell me what has been your experience with sutent as far as dose and side affects? Your post made me smile please continue on that road to NED!
  • MedScanMan
    MedScanMan Member Posts: 107
    Great Report
    What a wonderful CT report. Keep up the great work.
  • vdm13
    vdm13 Member Posts: 47
    angec said:

    Great News !
    Vin that is awesome!! Can you tell me what has been your experience with sutent as far as dose and side affects? Your post made me smile please continue on that road to NED!

    Sutent Experience
    Happy to share. I'm on 50mg Sutent, 4 weeks on, 2 weeks off. I just completed my second cycle yesterday. All in all, with the results I just witnessed I'll take the side effects. First and most prominent is fatigue, but only a 1 on a 1 to 4 scale. Second (this round) was taste changes. Imagine your favorite hero sandwich, dipped in luke warm water before you eat it. That's the sensation. Watery taste to everything. I was spared any skin conditions, although I had "hot feet" and some sensitivity. I've been using Bag Balm daily in the mornings and evenings. Stomach upset was there, but usually subsided with eating. No color change or loss to my hair yet, and I hope that keeps going. I have noticed some whitening of my eyebrows and lashes, but at 42, that could be aging and it just looks like its catching up to the rest of my head. Finally, my bowel movements have been less than stellar, but I wouldn't say it was ever inconvenient. So far, so good, and worth it. Thank you all for your kind words!
  • angec
    angec Member Posts: 924 Member
    vdm13 said:

    Sutent Experience
    Happy to share. I'm on 50mg Sutent, 4 weeks on, 2 weeks off. I just completed my second cycle yesterday. All in all, with the results I just witnessed I'll take the side effects. First and most prominent is fatigue, but only a 1 on a 1 to 4 scale. Second (this round) was taste changes. Imagine your favorite hero sandwich, dipped in luke warm water before you eat it. That's the sensation. Watery taste to everything. I was spared any skin conditions, although I had "hot feet" and some sensitivity. I've been using Bag Balm daily in the mornings and evenings. Stomach upset was there, but usually subsided with eating. No color change or loss to my hair yet, and I hope that keeps going. I have noticed some whitening of my eyebrows and lashes, but at 42, that could be aging and it just looks like its catching up to the rest of my head. Finally, my bowel movements have been less than stellar, but I wouldn't say it was ever inconvenient. So far, so good, and worth it. Thank you all for your kind words!

    Not bad!
    Thank you for sharing. That is not too bad, especially for 5o mgs. I hear others say their hair went white on it. Do they say how long you stay on it? Have you lost any weight? My mom might start it in Novembet but she is 80. Keep up the good work! So happy for you!
  • vdm13
    vdm13 Member Posts: 47
    angec said:

    Not bad!
    Thank you for sharing. That is not too bad, especially for 5o mgs. I hear others say their hair went white on it. Do they say how long you stay on it? Have you lost any weight? My mom might start it in Novembet but she is 80. Keep up the good work! So happy for you!

    More...
    The plan is for me to stay on as long as it is working, and if it stops to move to the next targeted therapy, with a goal of living long enough for them to find the cure. Typical efficacy for Sutent is around 12 months, I've heard. I don't want to sound arrogant here, but I plan on beating the beast before then! All the best to your Mom. I hope she does as well as I have so far!
  • alice124
    alice124 Member Posts: 896 Member
    Made my night!
    Your report made my day; congratulations! When one person wins a battle on this Board, we all win. Here's to winning more battles and VERY SOON the war!!!
  • icemantoo
    icemantoo Member Posts: 3,361 Member
    Congradulations
    Vin,


    The way you are going you are going to put Stage IV RCC out of business. Keep up the good work.

    Icemantoo
  • Limelife50
    Limelife50 Member Posts: 476
    Good going Vin
    Thanks for sharing the good news
  • garym
    garym Member Posts: 1,647
    Way to go!!!
    Vin,

    Great to hear you are winning the battle, it lifts the spirits of everyone here when someone gets a good report especially someone in the thick of the fight like you. You are a dragon slayer! Not long ago there was little hope for anyone not dx'ed early, but great strides are being made. I believe, with you, that you will be here for the celebration when this beast is gone for good. You have a great attitude!

    Rock on,

    Gary
  • foxhd
    foxhd Member Posts: 3,181 Member
    garym said:

    Way to go!!!
    Vin,

    Great to hear you are winning the battle, it lifts the spirits of everyone here when someone gets a good report especially someone in the thick of the fight like you. You are a dragon slayer! Not long ago there was little hope for anyone not dx'ed early, but great strides are being made. I believe, with you, that you will be here for the celebration when this beast is gone for good. You have a great attitude!

    Rock on,

    Gary

    Fantastic!
    Thats awesome! Starts my day with a big **** smile!!! Keep it going and I'll be there with you shortly. Fox.
  • angec
    angec Member Posts: 924 Member
    vdm13 said:

    More...
    The plan is for me to stay on as long as it is working, and if it stops to move to the next targeted therapy, with a goal of living long enough for them to find the cure. Typical efficacy for Sutent is around 12 months, I've heard. I don't want to sound arrogant here, but I plan on beating the beast before then! All the best to your Mom. I hope she does as well as I have so far!

    Thanks
    Thank you very much. From your words I can tell cancer picked the wrong one! We are there fighting too! Enjoy the day! How are you FOX?
  • Joe_fh
    Joe_fh Member Posts: 53 Member
    Fine News
    That is very cool vdm13.. You keep on kicking it's tail end while we applaud, loudly.
  • JackieP125
    JackieP125 Member Posts: 56
    Hip Hip Hooray!!!!
    Thanks for your keeping us updated on your progress. God is looking after you. Love to hear Great News!!!!!
  • toolman1
    toolman1 Member Posts: 44

    Hip Hip Hooray!!!!
    Thanks for your keeping us updated on your progress. God is looking after you. Love to hear Great News!!!!!

    A Genuine full fledged Jedi Knight!
    Now this report warms my soul! Tomorow, 9/19, I go in for 6 week scan results and most likely follow-up treatments, the two of which are Sutent, or IL-2, and I'm sitting on a fence still. This kind of report wants to sway my thinking away from the IL-2, but I believe heavily in the recommendations of the medical community. We'll see. Keep up the fight, and we'll see ya in the winner's circle!
  • Great News!
    Vin,

    That is such great news! You, along with everyone on this board, have been in our daily prayers.

    Keep up the fight!

    Tom and Holly
  • I am alive
    I am alive Member Posts: 315
    great news!!!!
    Fantastic!!! I LOVE hearing results like yours!!
    Keep 'em coming!!
  • pjune127
    pjune127 Member Posts: 127
    Awesome report!
    Keep up the good work! I am so thrilled for you.
  • Phoenix Rising
    Phoenix Rising Member Posts: 170
    Wonderful news!
    So there IS a pot of gold at the end of a cloud burst, too?! I love hearing great reports like this, vdm13. Makes me wanna kick some cancer butt!