Stivarga

I have no personal knowledge of this drug.  In fact I had a hard time finding it on the net.

I finally went to the FDA web site.  The following is the link for the label info and also includes more detailed info about studies done, etc.

http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2012/203085lbl.pdf

I hope this may help you.

Marie who loves kitties

I'm staring my second round of Stivarga. The first three weeks weren't too bad but this week has been a little rough. I needed a blood transfusion and have had bouts with vomiting and diarea.  The one week break didn't seem like enough time.  The real side effect seems to be tiredness.  That could be from doing chemo for so long.  I don't know too many other trying Stivargo but imagine there will be more over time. I was dx June 2009 stage 4 and been through all the regular chemos. Did you have Zaltrap chemo yet ? It is new but my last scan showed it was keeping rectal, liver intack but not controlling the timers in my lungs. This cancer is such a crazy ride. It's nice to meet someone who is also taking Stivarga...we will have to stay in touch. Jeff

My oncologist advised that stivarga was just approved for colon cancer late last year. I'd like to hear more from those who are taking it now as this appears to be an option for me. A person who was part of the Stivarga study before its approval for colon cancer has now survived for six years past their estimated length of survival. I hope the very best for you all.  I've been through surgery, six months of chemo and now starting chemo again after mets to mediastinum, neck and abdomen were found post chemo. I was pretty stunned to hear that after all this it is incureable. I'll be 49 next month and I'm already planning to have a BIG 50th. 

I just started my second round of this drug, 4 th week treatment, and Oncologist reduced the dose to 3 tablets after being on 4, to reduce side effects.

The first three weeks i became much weaker, lighter appetite, and a little more pain, also some weight loss, started 3 pills today but my catscan after 3 treatments showed the tumors were dying in the liver and none had grown larger

You can also reduce this med to two  pills, but i wanted to try another month on the 3 pill option.

I am also stage 4, in Colon,Lungs and Liver

EMAIL MAIL ME ANY TIME AT if we can exchange info Thanks

edlafosse@msn.com

ED

CANADA

Lolly1001 said:

Stivarga

This post is to describe my husband's experience with Stivarga, which has been positive.

History: At 52, my husband (who was in great shape--daily workouts, healthy eating, no alcohol or smoking) was diagnosed with Esophageal Cancer Sept 2014. As part of MD Anderson's testing, they also discovered a separate incidence of Colon Cancer Nov 2015.  For the Esophageal Cancer, he received Docetaxel/5FU and radiation prior to the esophectomy Feb 2015. Surgery was successful and no lymph node involvement. No adjuvant chemo required. In April 2015, he had the colon resection (18" removed). Twelve of 28 nodes had cancer, and the surgeon found and removed a small met in the liver.  He is now Stage IV.  The biopsy was inconclusive whether it was an esophageal or colon metastasis.

Since November 2014, he has had Docetaxel/5FU (D-Fox), FolFox, XELOX, and FolFiri--two more liver mets appeared. 

When the 3rd met appeared on the liver, they performed a biopsy, which indicated it was colon cancer metastasis (not esophageal).

So, the oncologist suggested my husband try Stivarga. Everything I read online had us terrified, but felt he had no choice if he wanted to beat the cancer.

Stivarga Experience: He is now in his 5th cycle of Stivarga. He takes 3 pills each morning for 3 weeks with 1 week off--the oncologist said none of his patients had been able to handle the recommended 4 tablet dose, so he started him at 3.  He has had minimal side effects that include tiredness, skin rashes (small areas) muscle aches, and random blood pressure spikes with racing heart. The first cycle caused some tenderness/redness of his feet, but keeping them moisturized seemed to help. He has been able to continue working full time throughout the Stivarga. He says he prefers Stivarga over all the other treatments.

After the 3rd cycle and another CT, the liver surgeon felt the mets were shrinking and no new mets appeared, so he performed liver ablation on the 2 spots remaining.

His CT scan last week showed no evidence of cancer!

The oncologist wants him to complete two more cycles, which will be a total of 6.  Then they will do a full restaging for both the esophagus and colon (CT, endoscopy, and colonoscopy). Of course, we are praying that those go well, and he can get a break from the chemo for at least a few months.

So, the bottom line: At this point, Stivarga has stopped the progression of the cancer and the side effects are manageable.

Thanks for sharing your experience Lolly.

It is great to know your husband is doing so great in stivarga. It think it is not so usual

Just a thing, As far as I undestood Did they had to wait until mets stopped growing to do the ablation?

Thanks for the info and BR

All the best

MS2014 said:

Great news!!!!

Thanks for sharing your experience Lolly.

It is great to know your husband is doing so great in stivarga. It think it is not so usual

Just a thing, As far as I undestood Did they had to wait until mets stopped growing to do the ablation?

Thanks for the info and BR

All the best

 

 

MS2014, my husband's liver surgeon at MD Anderson would not go forward with the liver ablation until he saw signs that chemo was working. I don't know if that is standard procedure though.

We actually had an ablation scheduled before my husband went on Stivarga, but the CT scan the day before showed a new spot, so the ablation was cancelled the morning he was supposed to have the procedure.

I'm finishing my last week of 5 treatments..GIST cancer..I grew resistant to gleevec..my 3rd diagnosis..tumor outside of stomach and pancreas..was growing fast but after 3 treatment tumor stopped growing..I have a scan Friday to see if it's shrinking..I take 4 pills a day..it's rough..I have headaches...confusion..sores on hands..feet hurt when I ealk..weakness.fatique..HB..hair loss..muscle loss..neuropathy..constipation..sinus pain..stomach pains..sores in my mouth..no appetite..I've lost 22 lbs..stay in bed most days..not able to work..I will update on friday

Dear LAckerm1.  If you would be interested in reading my story "How I Beat Stage Four Colon Cancer" just go to my page

blessed39 and click on blog and my story will come up. I don't give medical advice, just what worked for me. God bless

blessed39