Votrient for Renal Cell Carcinoma User Reviews

• ekim-...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• November 20, 2013

"Have been on Votrient now for over three years and am in remission. Side effects have included hand and foot pain (very slight now) and have experienced weight loss (from 180 lbs to around 130 lbs) over the last three years. As of this year, there have been no signs of liver problems but have had minor digestion issues. It appears that Votrient has been successful - unlike my experience with Sutent, Avastin, Xeloda and Affinitor. I had been diagnosed with stage IV renal cell carcinoma-sarcomatoid in 2008, and had the left kidney removed (and spleen due to a fall in the hospital). I have been on Votrient now for the better of three years, am still employed and fully functional."

• Les...
• September 4, 2011

"I have taken Votrient since 9/2010, starting at 800 mg per day, but reducing dosage to 400 mg then 200 mg due to high liver enzyme counts. I started taking Votrient after my kidney was removed due to RCC, in addition, I had three tumors in my legs, which is how I found out I had RCC. After taking Votrient and the kidney removal, two of the tumors disappeared. One year later and after taking the drug for one year, I had the third tumor removed by surgery, which was reduced in size by 50%. Today, my latest scans are showing no new cancer sites. Side effects have been minimal - diarrhea and change in taste with higher dosages, plus a stylish looking white hair! This medicine has allowed me to continue traveling and enjoy life without any limits."

• tilton
• December 6, 2011

"I have been on Votrient since Jan 2010. Started with a right kidney in 1999. In 2009 my family doctor suggested that I have a pulmonary doctor run some CTs to see what he thought. After 8 months of CTs, I had to go and get a biopsy and it proved 2 clear and 2 renal cell carcinoma had appeared between my lungs. I checked a couple of oncologists in town. Been on the medicine since January 2010 and have little significant change. A little diarrhea once in a while and headaches, some dizziness on occasion but no significant change. Feel real good about the treatment. Would recommend it to anyone."

• gentl...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• March 31, 2015

"I have been taking 800mg of Votrient daily since March, 2012 to treat Renal Cell Carcinoma tumors which developed when the cancer spread from a large tumor on my right kidney. Votrient has been effective in stopping the growth of the tumors and shrinking a few. Side effects experienced: treatable elevated blood pressure and diarrhea."

• ekim
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• August 22, 2013

"On Votrient since 2010 after Sutent. Results were good. After six months - no sign of metastasis and have been in remission since 2012. Votient had the effect of high blood pressure which was mitigated by Procardia. As of late, have lost weight and am having some digestive issues."

• Alli
• June 5, 2013

"I started on Votrient May 4, 2013. I take it at bedtime, which has really helped. I took it for about 24 days back in December, during the day, and side effects were far worse. So far, the side effects are more tolerable than Sutent. I do have high blood pressure and low platelets, but doctor is doing labs weekly. Some days the side effects are worse than others. I went to 800 mg last week and have more fatigue. I pray it works for my lung tumors as I have heard it has for others."

• Bless...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• March 18, 2017

"I was diagnosed with renal cell carcinoma May 2015. I had right kidney removed due to huge tumor. Cancer mets. to my lungs. Tried several treatments that did not work. Finally I was prescribed Votrient! It worked immediately. I have been using it for about 7 months. The only side affects I experienced was high blood pressure. I just had scan a week ago and tumors are still shrinking or have gone away. I will continue to pray to GOD for your positive progress as well as mine. Stay positive and know that you will beat it!"

• Plpsrp
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• March 21, 2017

"I have been taking votriant since Fall 2015. Bilateral Renal cell carcinoma. Left total nephectomy and partial right. Small spot on liver at that time. Remaining tumors on the right. Due to surgery complications after right kidney surgery, sepsis, heart attack and stroke. I am now 59 yrs old. Votriant 800 mgs daily for about 5 weeks was rough...but I would do it again. Vomiting, diarrhea, high blood pressure, body and tired all the time. My hair has turned white, most people like my highlights! My oncologist has been wonderful and I have responded well to lower doses of Votrient which has helped my side effects. September 2016 I received great news! I am cancer free. Continue on maintenance dose right now of 200 mg 3xwk"

• anony...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• March 9, 2015

"Began 800mg in May 2014; 10 months into treatment. No new mets at this time. High blood pressure began three weeks into treatment, a good sign in that it demonstrates the drug is working well. Hand foot syndrome, initially intense pain , but now under control. Weight loss due to loss of taste and appetite, a nutritionist can help. White hair. This is considered the least toxic targeted therapy drug for mRCC, do all you can to stay with it. If it is working for the first year you may continue to get excellent results for years to come. This is currently considered the first line therapy for mRCC. Take at night to reduce the stomach discomfort."

• Anonymous
• March 25, 2011

"Votrient was effective in shrinking tumors in lungs and inhibiting progression of tumors in spine and brain; but I had to discontinue it due to elevated liver enzymes. This happened with an 800 mg dose and a reduced dose of 400 mg. Side effects experienced early in treatment included elevated blood pressure (treated) and fatigue (tolerable)."

• Deejay
• July 14, 2015

"50 Y.O. male, diagnosed Stage IV mRCC on 1 may 2014. Radical nephrectomy of right kidney June 2015. Tumour had invaded surrounding fat, IVC and adheared to bowel. Mets appeared in Jan 2015 (liver). Started 800mg Votrient feb 2015; side effects included, white hair, gastric issues, loss of taste, high BP otherwise felt ok. After 1 Month high liver enzymes forced me to stop. After 4 weeks off, recommenced 400mg of Votrient. Side effects not as severe but similar to 800mg dose. Required a week off Votrient recently due to a bout of pneumonia. Liver Mets have shrunk from 20mm to 7.5 mm since Jan, 400mg seems to be working, lets hope it stays that way."

• combt...
• September 28, 2011

"Just started taking Votrient 09-15-11 for renal cell carcinoma stage4, cyst in my spine and leg, no side effects as of yet. Looking forward to a positive experience and good reports on the medicine. Wish me luck."

• worried...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 8, 2015

"My husband started Votrient 800mg about a week ago after surgery for a metastatic renal cancer. So far he is doing so well, taking it at night seems to be working. Some mornings he is a little spent but he does stay up late. I am praying for a good result - he has numerous teeny lung lesions and just a teeny area where the L kidney had been. He is 53 and otherwise in very good health."

• Dick
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 16, 2018

"RCC detected May 2018. Left kidney removed 20 yrs ago, started Votrient 800 mg on June 1, 2018. First follow up PET scan will be August 30th, to see how it is doing. Most side effects, diarrhea most days, hair turning white, bruising easily, now feet are very tender, even thou I am following instructions on applying urea lotion on both feet and hands twice daily. Take the Votrient first thing out of bed in the AM, with hopes I flush out early enough to have an active life, although I am limited some days, but must always know where restrooms are. When I started the Votrient, I went directly to 800mg, and have stayed on it daily since, I feel that I must tough it out, and stay with it, to give it the best chance to work. Praying for good scan results. God Bless you folks that are in the same fight, stay on meds, stay as active as you can (I walk 20-30 minutes every day), and eat to keep weight up which will help with your strength. My prayers are with you."

• PApa...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 7, 2015

"Unfortunately side effects for me have been horrific! I was on 800mg for 6 weeks. I wound up with nausea, extreme hoarseness, high blood pressure, fatigue with sleeping 18 to 22 hours a day. Took a turn for the worse and liver enzymes were high. Could not eat or drink water for 5 days and lost 30 pounds. I was off the Votrient for a month and just started back on half the dose; 400mg. So far so good one evening of slight nausea. Other than a little more tired it appears to be better."

• Deborah...
• June 17, 2016

"I had my right kidney removed December 2014 they thought all cancer was gone but few months later they found cancer in my lymph nodes. I started on Votrient July 2015 at 800 mg but had Doctor reduce amount because of stomachs issues. I'm still nauseated daily and throw up almost every day. My hands are bright red my hair is white I have sores on certain parts of my body that act like blisters then go away after a few weeks. All in all the cancer is shrinking and I have another cat scan this month."

• Tezman
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• September 23, 2017

"I was diagnosed with Stage IV renal cel carcinoma in January 2012. After two unsuccessful IL-2 treatments, I started taking Votrient in June 2012. At first I had all of the written side-effects but after completely changing my diet, they diminish significantly. Fatigue and whitening of my skin being my only problems. My last CT's continue to show a all of my known tumors as principally stable. The drug works for me! 5 years and counting!"

• Vlatko
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 8, 2016

"I am taking Votrient for 14 days. My side effect are vomiting, some stomach problems and a temperature around 37℃. Half of my left kidney is removed on June 2015, but a year after I got results that I have MS on my sternum bone and 2 tumors appeared in the soft tissues around the sternum. After a 14 days one of the tumors is getting smaller, I hope this will happen with the other one. Reading the other comments I hope side effect will go away and tumors will be gone. I am 23 years old. God bless everyone."

• Arizona...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 29, 2015

"diagnosed Jan 2, 2015 with renal cell carcinoma. I'm 61 and have been a picture of health my whole life. Right kidney had a tumor and they were going to remove until found 2 leisions on my liver. First med I did not respond to and been on Votrient for 2 weeks. After 1 week they felt I was responding. Side effects are bad with vomiting and diarrhea that it drains me. Hard to eat as food doesn't taste right and now my tongue has a burnt taste so nothing tastes good and have lost a lot of weight in short periods of time. sleep 10 -12 night and 2 hr nap. They say this is all typical for everyone. How long has it taken everyone to finally get back to feeling normal. I use a walker around house and wheelchair for dr"

• Grandma...
• March 10, 2017

"I am 70, female. 19 years ago had right kidney removed due to renal cell cancer. In spring of 2016 my shoulder began to bother me, and it got worse until my upper arm broke just below the shoulder, due to renal cell cancer which had metastized to my upper arm bone, my pancreas tail, and two spots on my liver. I first had two weeks of IL-2 which gave me awful side effects and no changes to the cancer tumors. Have been on Votrient since September 2015. November scan shows tumors shrinking. Feb 2017 shows tumors are still shrinking. Side effects are diarrhea every day, body and muscle pain, scaly sores on my bottom, fatigue, and just recently pain in my hands. I take 800 mg daily, late in the day. I take Tramadol for the body pain."

• chada...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 2, 2016

"Lost my first kidney 5 years ago two months ago cancer was found in my remaining kidney. It had metastasized to my brain and lungs. Had gamma knife surgery on brain tumor. Started votrient about 1 month ago. Side effects include fatigue and high blood pressure.So far doing well on 800 milligrams. Have lost about 45 pounds I know now I need to eat regular meals in order to keep up my strength. This also helps with the fatigue. So far lab work looks good looking for the best results with votrient"

• plane...
• February 6, 2018

"Left nefrectomy 2007, Whipple 2008, left adrenalectomy 2009, 2 craniotomy (2010, 2017). Cancer found in 2007, had spread to Duodenum, lungs eventually adrenals and brain. IL2 in 2008 nailed the pulmonary mets and was NED for a few years before RCC showed up in adrenal and eventually brain (twice). Now RCC has reappeared on remaining adrenal. Using Votrient at a low (400mg) level, and first few months have shown a tremendous reduction (50%). Blessed to have only a few side effects compared to you guys.. . Keep up the energy. . keep up the fight."

• Rockc...
• December 29, 2016

"My right kidney was removed in January 2016. My Oncologist had me undergo a CT scan every 2 months. In August 2016 tumors in my lungs and lymph nodes showed significant growth. A biopsy of several lymph nodes revealed renal cell cancer and I started taking 800 mg/day of Votrient in September. After 3 months, I just completed my first CT scan and virtually all of the tumors from the previous scan had reduced in size, some as much as 50%. I had difficulty adjusting to the Votrient initially. I take Prilosec for acid reflux and my Oncologist told me I could only take a dose in the morning if I take the Votrient at night. I have been able to control the acid reflux by drinking Aloe Vera juice before bed time and raising the bed headboard."

• Slk
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• August 8, 2018

"Been on 600 mg of votrient for 1 1/2 years. No new cancer cells and the few I had after right kidney removal and brain tumor removal have decreased. I do experience stomach pain and fatigue but it is not that bad since the cells are smaller and some non existent- stage 4 RCC since October 2016"

• Scott...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 18, 2018

"I took 800 mg for my RCC for 7 weeks. The medicine made me very ill and caused a few pretty serious medical complication throughout my digestive system but...all signs of my stage 4 RCC are now gone. Votrient was a rough ride but in the end it worked beautifully. Praying I can stay cancer free forevermore."