Sutent 2 weeks on 1 week off

Kathy;

I was on Sutent for about a year.  I started out at the usual dosage, but I couldn't handle it either.  I ended up on a "2 week on, 1 week off" cycle, too.  After being on Sutent for the year, one new, small spot showed up.  When that happened, we changed drugs.  So, Sutent was a pretty good drug for me (even at the reduced dosage) for about a year before we decided to switch.  I understand that getting a year out of a drug is pretty good.  Would the new spot have showed up if I had been on a stronger dose?  That's hard to say.  You ask for success stories.  Well, my story is sort of successful. 

I have a thyroid problem also.  My readings don't jump around, though.  It's been easier to regulate.  Exactly when the thyroid problems started, I can't tell you for sure.  It could have easily been about the time I was on Sutent.  No link has been talked about with my doctors.

The drugs we take are very powerful and affect different people in different ways.  I've been told that determining the right dose for a person is a trial and error process.  That how I've come to understand chemotherpy.

I hope this helps and I wish you well.

Dutch

I just started Sutent after discovering that Gilbert's syndrom and Prozabonib don't play well together.  I was offered either schedule and told by my doctor that he has patients on both with about equal success. 

I am currently on my second week of my first dose and really hoping that this will hold for a while.  The side effects are limited so some tiredness and some sore muscles.  First blood check showed no abnormalities.  Best of luck with your treatment!

I can still walk fine, though every once in a while i really just want to sleep the day away, staying awake is hard!  but I have only had 2 days like that since i started and that may be partially to weird reactions from other meds keeping me awake all hours.

My doc is planning a liver panel because of the weird reaction i had to Prozapanib (SP?) as well as a thyroid panel.  Overall though the Sutent has not left me feeling worse for wear.

part of my problems is I am still recovering from some of the lingering side effects of the immunotherapy I was on.  It worked well for 2 years but it gave me a case of acute arthritis in my knees and shoulders.  apparently with the PDL1 drugs, if you have a family history of autoimmune disease the drug will trigger the symptoms.  Fortunately, they seem to go away when you stop the drug. (you try telling your PCP that you have a temporary case of arthritis - the look you get is priceless!)

WTG Airie, and all!

Has anyone else gotten side effects that come and go?  I had been on Sutent for 2 weeks on Thursday and everything was going fine.  Then out of nowhere i started feeling constipated and bloated and from there the various effects including fast heart rate, nausea, heartburn, runs, muscle fatigue, soreness, and temperature ran for 4 days.  and then come this morning, its all gone again.  If someone else in the family was ill I would put it down to a bad reaction to a flu but this was isolated and pretty rough

Thanks Footstomper.  Good to know it wasnt just random illness, not so good that I can expect that again.

Kangaroorex-

Please know I can empathize with all your SE. I had my radical nephrectomy 1/28/16. After all testing found mets in my lungs. I started 50mg Sutent 4/2 schedule. The SE became to difficult switched to 37.5 2/1 cycle after May scan showed 40% decrease in tumors. SE are more tolerable with 2/1 schedule. My side effects vary month to month. As Footstomper said Huggies gentle care wipes can be your new friend. Get Udderdly Smooth lotion. Apply to your hands feet couple times a day to prevent hand/foot breakdown. Immodium works well for diarrhea. I use Tums chewables in a m for heartburn. Drink lots water. I've also had muscle cramps. Staying with daughter in Calif who has in ground pool. I walk in it and helps cramping. Dr can prescribe Zofran as needed for nausea. Please keep your Dr updated on all side effects. Ive had great results with Sutent. Hope you have positive results also!

Cherie

Kangaroorex said:

thanks

Thanks to both of you.  my doctor changed me to a 2/1 schedule with the view point of it will be easier on my liver and give it more rests.  2 months of votrient gave me a 20% decrease then we moved to Sutent so we could see anything from stability to further decrease.  the wet wipes are definitely a friend although i seem to fall to the other end of the spectrum with constipation issues.  Heartburn has been a recent issue and annoying but controlled thru rantitide or tums or just reisiting eating for 3 hours before bedtime.  i had muscle cramps with Votrient but not yet with sutent. 

moderate term, my doctor is looking at getting into one of the HIF studies which sounds like it has all sorts of promise as a looooong term maintenance drug.  According to the little i could find and what I got from my doctor, it is supposed to shut down the gene failure causing the cancer, resulting in the tumor becoming a normal body cell:  it lives, it reproduces but it doesnt multiply.  it also has apparently almost non-existent side effects as long as you are a full grown adult.  This may be where i am headed in the future.

Thanks again for the info and support.

Roo

Good luck to you Roo. There's some great treatments coming on line, hope you get a good un