Sunitinib for Renal Cell Carcinoma User Reviews

• bar...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• June 9, 2012

Sunitinib "On Sutent for 9 months and was extremely fatigued but minimally nauseous. Doctor's estimate is an additional 9 months. Original diagnosis was clear cell cancer and removed right kidney. Annual exam revealed it metastasized to left adrenal gland. PET scan reveals some tumors have disappeared and remaining ones are shrinking. No new tumors seem to have appeared. My quality of life has not seemed to have decreased and I feel blessed every day that Sutent therapy is working for me."

• Jim...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• July 11, 2019

Sunitinib "I have been on Sutent for 3.5 years now with minor side effects. I tried the 4 weeks on and 2 weeks off, but that did not work for me. Now I am on 2 weeks off and 1 week on, and that is tolerable. So far, this drug has caused my tumor in the surgery bed to shrink. The left kidney was removed 4.5 years ago. Quality of life is good, and I am living a full and happy life. I thank the company that produces this targeted therapy drug for patients like me. There is hope after a kidney cancer diagnosis. For all of those who are currently going through this, just remember that years ago drug therapy was not yet available and life expectancy was short. A positive attitude and great family support all help when fighting an aggressive disease like cancer."

• mar...
• October 5, 2011

Sunitinib "I've been on Sutent since December 2008. First at 50 mg for 3 cycles, then due to side effects dose reduced to 37.5 mg for about 3 more cycles, but still had problems with my blood counts. Then the dose was reduced to 25 mg. So, since about 2 years ago, I have been on Sutent 25 mg, 2 weeks on, 1 week off. My tumors shrunk 30% since the beginning, and now I've been stable. Side effects are mild, sometimes a little bit harder, but I am grateful I am still here and living a full life."

• con...
• February 26, 2014

Sunitinib "I have been on Sutent for 4 months. My cancer is shrinking and it is not bad. I am on OxyContin as well because the cancer had gotten into my bones and spine. Degradation of my spine. So I now have a brace in my back. Side effects: Sutent has almost a narcotic effect on me. Bad gas and my taste buds are all messed up. Constipation. My biggest complaint comes during the 2 weeks off. It's like I go through withdrawals that are really intense. Shaking, pain all over. And I'm so weak for those two weeks, it's hard if not impossible to get out of bed. But all in all, Sutent has been doing its job, many of the tumors are smaller if not gone. And the large masses went from baseball to golf ball size. Pleased with Sutent."

• Che...
• November 4, 2010

Sunitinib "I am here to tell you 2 years after having my left kidney removed, I am stable and have been on Sutent since February 2009. I am the Cheryl that commented in December of 2009. I am still grateful to the makers of Sutent. I am now on 37.5mg instead of the initial 50mg, and it is more tolerable. I have been stable for the last 6 months. I have one tiny nodule left in my liver. I started with 14 nodules in the lungs and 3 in the liver."

• Anonymous
• December 23, 2010

Sunitinib "I am a 72-year-old male that had a kidney removed six years ago. Since then, the cancer reformed in my hip causing a partial hip replacement, then on to my breastbone (radiation treatment), and finally my lung and adrenal gland. At that point, I was put on Sutent 50mg which caused white count issues. We dialed down to 37.5 which stabilized the blood, and now after three months my tumors have shrunk by half. Side effects are not pleasant but tolerable. Bottom line, I am still alive thanks to Sutent."

• Tim...
• February 14, 2010

Sunitinib "I've been on Sutent for 18 months. I had my primary tumor removed but have 7 metastases on my aorta, these have all reduced in size by approximately 70%. I have had very manageable side effects and attribute this to a diet change: no sugar, low carb, and minimal alcohol. I'm 42, leading a very active life thanks to Sutent. The only downside is knowing it stops working after a while, but until then, I'll cherish every moment with my family."

• Eli...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• June 3, 2012

Sunitinib "I have been on Sutent now for 13 months. The full monty at 50 mg. It seems to be doing its main job, which is to shrink and freeze the metastasis I have in lungs. I am told my own side effects are mild compared with most. The ones with medical significance and danger are under control - these are the high blood pressure, which is under control with additional blood pressure pills, and the messed up thyroid, also under control with pills. The main things that bother me are the gastro side effects. I cannot get the diarrhea under control. The painful violent gas now seems controllable using Simethicone. I get a very acidy stomach with heartburn in the last two weeks of the cycle. Sometimes can relieve it with milk."

• She...
• December 1, 2009

Sunitinib "I just celebrated my 1-year Cancer Birthday in November thanks to Sutent. The side effects are all treatable, although I had to stop working full time, I have an excellent quality of life! I am very grateful to the makers of Sutent!"

• Che...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• September 1, 2013

Sunitinib "I am still on Sutent, 50 mg due to slight growth in the left lung, otherwise, stable. I have battled E. coli this summer, which I got from eating cooked seafood out of town. Otherwise, I will celebrate my 5-year cancer birthday on 11/2/2013!"

• Jar...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• February 12, 2015

Sunitinib "I've been on Sutent 50 mg for eight months, and it's working for me, thank you! It does knock the stuffing out of me, but I'm loathe to drop to 37.5 mg. I never get sick or have diarrhea, just exhaustion. I'm planning to go on for a long time yet, my biggest problem is myself not responding fast enough to my body, which is screaming at me to rest. When the clock is ticking, you don't want to stop, do you?"

• Cra...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• January 23, 2019

Sunitinib "I'm speaking for my husband. In 2002, he lost his right kidney, he's a Marine from Vietnam. In 2013, I thought he had pneumonia. When I took him to the doctor, the X-ray showed his whole right lung was occluded with a tumor, not operable. We went to his oncologist, and they started him on Sutent. Two collapsed lungs, two laser treatments for bleeding, but his right lung is now wide open. He is frail but upright. Why? It's his attitude, he said, 'I'm a Marine, and I'll beat this.' So please hang in there, keep a positive attitude. I believe he is the longest living person right now on this drug. No taste buds, diarrhea, yes, but he's here, and that is what we want. God bless you all and keep you safe..."

• Ver...
• September 15, 2016

Sunitinib "Thanks to God, my doctor and the makers of Sutent, I'm still here. I got my left kidney removed, and three years later, I discovered a metastasis in the spine and liver, which was treated with radiation followed by Sutent. I started with 50 mg but couldn't tolerate it, so it got reduced to 25 mg. The condition is stable for 8 months now, and the side effects are bearable. I'm very grateful and recommend this medication to anyone who needs it."

• Jim...
• November 14, 2019

Sunitinib "Sutent is still a very good drug to use for treating kidney cancer. To follow up from a previous post, Sutent continues to have great success for me personally, but as of late, the drug dosage was reduced due to some new side effects. While scans remain good, there seems to be a delicate balance for exactly how much of the drug is necessary. While the normal dosage for me was set at 50 mg once a day for 14 days on, 7 days off, my oncologist has reduced the dosage to 37.5 mg. It appears that this new dosage is easier on my body while doing its targeted therapy to control cancer cells. It will be 5 years since radical surgery (removal of the left kidney, spleen, and adrenal gland) this coming February, and the quality of life has been great. No huge side effects from the onset, but some bumps in the road that I was able to overcome."

• Pea...
• March 4, 2019

Sunitinib "I started my chemo journey 7 years ago, dealing with stage 4 kidney cancer. They removed my left kidney and filled a hole in my left knee with cement bone and 2 weeks of radiation treatment. Then I went into remission for a period of 4-5 years. A lump appeared just below my right jaw, so 2 biopsies were performed and found out that it was the same cancer cells. So, I was put on Votrient 200 mg per tablet and took 3 per day for almost 22 months. I couldn't take the Votrient anymore. My oncology doctor suggested that I take a holiday, and I did for almost 5 months. So in November 2017, a CAT scan was ordered, and the results were that I had a tumor on my left side. I have been taking Sutent 50 mg since December 2017, and it did shrink my tumor. I was very happy and am now off the Sutent, waiting to have another CAT scan to make sure that there are no surprises. I found this chemo drug Sutent works better for me, and my body can tolerate it. Your chemo friend, PEACHY C"

• Hot...
• July 26, 2016

Sunitinib "Left kidney removed by radical nephrectomy on Dec 23, 2014, after 3 blood clots caused heart attacks and ablation operation. Follow-up in August revealed 7 tumors in lungs and 2 enlarged lymph nodes. Started 50 mg Sutent, 28-day cycle on Dec 26, 2015, very harsh side effects including severe diarrhea, vomiting, dry mouth, bleeding teeth and gums, hyperthyroidism, after 3 months. 6 weeks rest and reduced to 37.5 mg and 14-day cycle. After 5 months, tumors in left lung had doubled in size and slight growth in right lung. On July 21, 2016, CT showed growth had stabilized but side effects remained severe. Going to 25 mg, 14-day cycle on 27 August."

• Wes...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 4, 2014

"I was diagnosed with renal cell carcinoma on the 30/1/14 stage 4 with tumors on my lymph nodes and around my stomach and was told I had 9/12 months to live. My left kidney was removed in Sept 13, but this was my downfall and the cancer spread. After starting Sutent in February, I can honestly say it has helped me. The tumors on my lymph have shrunk, and the cancer in my stomach has not changed. The side effects were harsh on my first cycle, which was 50 mg, the usual side effects: sore tongue, hands, feet, etc., so I went on 37.5 mg and this has helped also. I have had 4 cycles now and have just started my 2-week break to detox, but I feel the first week of this I do suffer withdrawal symptoms. I hope this helps."

• Boy...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• October 12, 2016

"I was diagnosed with stage 4 RCC in July 2016, which has spread to both lungs, one the size of an egg and many others the size of a penny. They took my kidney out (the size of an American football) in October. I have been on Sutent for three years as of December 2016. Started on 4 weeks on, 2 weeks off on 50 mg. Then, after nine months, went onto 2 weeks on, 1 week off. I now self-medicate between 50 and 37.5 mg. I know of people that go up to 75 mg for a period to make it work. The first CT will be a good indicator if it is going to work. Masses should reduce a lot. I have had and still get most of the side effects, so if anyone wants to know what I do, let me know. By the way, empower yourself and get a plan B. Do research."

• Gur...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 25, 2020

Sunitinib "Also from Mumbai. Also, my dad has started taking Sutent for his RCC condition, 37.5 mg dose, 2 weeks and 1 week off. But he experienced fatigue and temperature and high BP, loss of taste, and flatulence. Would like to know what diet plan you followed to cope with your side effects. And will the side effects subside with time?"

• Jim...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 5, 2020

Sunitinib "Been on Sutent for 3 months, my dose is 50 mg, 2 weeks on, 1 week off. Initial side effects are fatigue, some small sores on tongue, taste buds off, hair thinning, some diarrhea, and dry skin. They are subsiding a little as time goes by. All in all, nothing I can’t deal with for a while. So far, the scan is good. Very expensive drug, but after some doing, I got on the patient assistance program."

• DaB...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 27, 2017

"I was set to retire after 21 years of active duty Army (05/2012), when the retirement physical accidentally discovered a large tumor on my right kidney. 5 days later, they removed my right kidney. Retired 11/2012. 4 years later, with no symptoms or signs of any cancer, I opened a car door with my left arm, and my arm broke in 3 places. (large tumor) They resected a 4” piece of my radial bone in my arm. Again, they found cancer... they removed cancer! In June of this year (2017), all scans clear! October 2017. 3-1/2” tumors on the pancreas, 1-3/4” tumor on the remaining left kidney, a very small spot on the lung, and a 1-1/2” tumor on the backside of the left tibia bone. 1st Sunitinib, 50mg capsule today! Scared! Hope and faith that I survive this!"

• joa...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• November 18, 2020

Sunitinib "This is Joaquim from Mumbai, India. I have been on Sutent since July 4, 2016, completed about 75 cycles. 2 weeks on, 1 week off. 50 mg per day. There have been ups and downs as sometimes the metastasis on my lungs used to grow then shrink. I changed my diet pattern, it's working for me till now. Share your experiences too if you have completed more than 75 cycles. I think one guy from the UK has crossed 100 cycles and later started immunotherapy."

• Deg...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 1, 2018

Sunitinib "I collected my brother's ashes yesterday. He was on Sutent for sarcomatoid kidney cancer. Sutent made him so very, very ill, it destroyed any quality of life he had left before he died (6 months from diagnosis to his passing). He died after 5 days in the hospital vomiting blood, possibly from a perforated stomach/intestine/bowel. This drug is so cytotoxic my local pharmacy refused to accept the remaining tablets we had after he died. Sutent, I called it an evil drug, as that's what it is."

• Vic...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 20, 2019

Sunitinib "This was my 2nd line of treatment. I did not respond to this medicine. I had many side effects, the worst being low platelets that caused me twice to stop treatment temporarily. I dose reduced from 50 to 37.5, but it did not help. I had nausea that was tolerable for the most part, thanks to a nausea patch. I had to get one transfusion due to blood counts. My hair thinned and turned white, but that's mild. Hair has since returned to prior thickness and color."

• Joa...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• April 13, 2022

Sunitinib "I have been taking Sutent since July 4, 2016. I have crossed 100 cycles and am on 101 now. It's 2 weeks on, 1 week off, 50 mg a day. It has worked for me, be positive and carry on. When my feet crack, I apply coconut oil with cotton and bandage it. When it pains, I dip my legs in cold water. Nearing the end of my cycle, I go on salads and yogurt."