I am supposed to start Xgeva next week & was wondering about the pros & cons?

Stage 4 renal cell carcinoma, curious about have you had a nephrectomy? Bone mets is a direct result of the renal cell carcinoma obviously not incapsulated carcinoma, and that does explain why no kidney removal surgery could be accomplished, it was too late for that since carcinoma has affected the bone causing you have bone mets.
Its good you have started on the calcium-D, as bone loss happens due to malabsorption of Vit-D. Lack of calcium-D could potential cause hypocalcium, low calcium levels, with Xgeva comes the potential for the above mentioned--hypocalcium, it is what is known as a monoclonal
antibody, used in the prevention of skeletal related events (the ability of the body to make osteclasts(blood cells)--build new bone) in patients with bone mets from a solid tumor (renal cell ca).

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Dosage is usually given sub-q (deep in the skin of the upper arm etc.) 120 mg. every 4 weeks, or what ever your practioner has developed for you specifically. If injecting yourself, store at temp in your phamplet, and use as prescribed, any reaction you may have you can call the FDA @ 1-800-FDA-1088.
Side effects can occur at any given time while on the medication which you can be on for say up to 3 yrs. Side effects include but limited to the following: fatigue, headache, vertigo (dizziness), dyspnea (hard to breath), insomnia, angina pectoris (chest pain), a-fib (atrial fibrillation), dermitis (itchy skin), eczema(scaly skin), rash, nausea, diarrhea, upper abdonimal pain, gas, ge reflux dz., (gastro esophegeal reflux), anemia, cystitis(painful urination).
Make sure and get a good dental check up and treatments prior to starting
the therapy. Monitor by a physician your calcium levels, long term users, and osteonecrosis (jaw deterioration--hense the dental recommendation).
You should know within 24 hours if you will have any difficulties from side effects up to 72 hrs. post first use of Xgeva.
Pros/Cons--hopefully your oncologist explained all of this to you when he/she decided on this type of treatment for your bone mets. First I would ask myself : Is the outcome going to prolong my life for more than the expected outcome of your life expectency if you did nothing?, or is this treatment going to give me years versus months extra?, Can I afford this treatment?, Is this going to cure my problem? or prolong it? In the end of the converstion are you just giving yourself a questionable chance, or do you have the hard facts in front of you concerning bone mets survival rate. I must be frank with you, bone mets has no cure that I am aware of, there is however medication for the pain, its time to deal with life on life's terms, and be honest about what you expect from this treatment, and can you live as a whole person with/or without it, and is this treatment going to prolong your life, let you live your life as a whole not a "sick all the time feeling from the treatment person/patient.
I wish you all the best, and have a positive day, and do the right thing for you this may be the right treatment for your type of cancer. My father had lung ca, and bone mets, unfortunately he is at much peace in a much nicer place out of all the pain he was in, and I would not want him back in the pain he was in.
Bless you (have you had a PET scan, bone scan, and tumor markings done?, if not get them done ASAP please.)

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