Sutent Statistics

louis99
louis99 Member Posts: 3
in Kidney Cancer #1

Greetings all,

 

Can anyone direct me to life expactancy statisitics (ie avg time till death) of sutent vs staight up paliative measures (ie morphine)?

Thanks! 

 

Louis

Comments

  • Footstomper
    Footstomper Member Posts: 1,237 Member
    #2
    Stats

    I think you're asking an impossible question. No one stays on the same drug but switches between drugs as we continue to fight the disease. Also progress in cancer research is going so rapidly that such a prognosis is no longer relevant.

    But Stutent v Morphine against Cancer. Stutent wins by a number of years it is an Anti-Cancer drug, Morphine isnt

    Why do you ask?

  • icemantoo
    icemantoo Member Posts: 3,361 Member
    edited September 2016 #3
    I think

    louis99,

    I think it all depends on your diagnosis and how far you are on your journey. Many have had sucsess with it. Others not so much. I think this is a case you have ot ask your Oncologist who knows your situation.

     

     

    Icemantoo

  • louis99
    louis99 Member Posts: 3
    #4
    Footstomper said:

    Stats

    I think you're asking an impossible question. No one stays on the same drug but switches between drugs as we continue to fight the disease. Also progress in cancer research is going so rapidly that such a prognosis is no longer relevant.

    But Stutent v Morphine against Cancer. Stutent wins by a number of years it is an Anti-Cancer drug, Morphine isnt

    Why do you ask?

    Yes I realize it is a tough

    Yes I realize it is a tough question.  I am seeing average life expectancy of stage 4 untreated at about 6 months to 2 years.  Stave 4 five year survival is still at about 8%.  I think I just answered my own question!  But thanks anyhow... 

  • hardo718
    hardo718 Member Posts: 853 Member
    #5
    Welcome Louis

    It would be helpful if you fill out your profile so we can read your history with RCC.  Stage 4 doesn't necessarily mean death sentence.  Hard to gauge without more information about you, but I'm sure your doctor can shed some light on your prognosis.  That being said, doctor's aren't God either, they can only give you their best guess based on experiences of others, so take what they say with a grain of salt and fight the fight. 

    Best wishes and I'll keep you in my prayers,

    Donna~

  • icemantoo
    icemantoo Member Posts: 3,361 Member
    edited September 2016 #6
    Don't look at Statistics.

    Louis 99,

    Those statistics are old. Because of Sutent and oter drugs there are many long term survivors of Stage IV Kidney Cancer. There are a wide spectrum of Stage IV cases out there. Discuss the facts of your case with a Doctor. My across the street neighbor Faye's Kidney Cancer was discovered as a result of mets that had spred to her lung (the definition of Stage IV). She is still doing fine more than 20 years later in her mid 80's. Last week her 87 year old husband who she had been a caretaker for, died.

     

    Icemantoo

  • Footstomper
    Footstomper Member Posts: 1,237 Member
    #7
    louis99 said:

    Yes I realize it is a tough

    Yes I realize it is a tough question.  I am seeing average life expectancy of stage 4 untreated at about 6 months to 2 years.  Stave 4 five year survival is still at about 8%.  I think I just answered my own question!  But thanks anyhow... 

    OK

    I was diagnosed on May 1st 2013. Stage 4 Grade 4. I dont think I've died yet, no intention of dying soon. Had Sutent for a while and iy worked for a while, but there are so many new treatments coming on line, I am more and more confident of my and your survival.

    Stats are all meaningless and out of date, because the science is moving so fast. Generally stay off the internet. If its not out of date its insane. I blame the Rockwell aliens.

  • penitent
    penitent Member Posts: 79
    #8
    There are so many variables to life expectancy

    For the same reason that one med works for one patient and doesn't for another.  Yes, statistics are just numbers, not individuals, but you do have to consider additional variables than just stage and grade.  Our John is stage 4, grade 4, but has the added factors of 60% sarcomatoid features and extensive necrosis in the original tumor (which makes the aggressiveness and prognosis worse).  He didn't benefit from Votirent but certainly may from nivo (which he started yesterday). We just don't know what will work so you keep fighting and trying to be one of the 8% survivors at five years.

  • Kangaroorex
    Kangaroorex Member Posts: 47 Member
    #9
    Data without context is meaningless

    Statistics are a dangerous tool.  The ones on the AKA site include survival data from 30 years ago and was last updated in 2010 (I think they update every 10 years but i cant find a reference).  Sutent was released as a drug for RCC in 2007 and since then there has been a virtual flood of new drugs and techniques to extend a patients life, and even in rare cases, cure them.  If its any help my oncologist, who specializes in renal and melanoma, is very happy to tell me that in the last 10 years he has had more patients die of things unrelated to cancer than of the actual disease

    I suffered through the same fear and horror when I saw those the first time, but with so much change so recently, the original statistical numbers just do not have any meaning in a modern context.  Dont surrender to the fear and the past.  While you live you can grow and fight.  Talk to your oncolgist and develop a plan to treat and fight the cancer while maximizing your quality of life. 

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