Started Cycle 20

Started Cycle 20 of the Sutent Clinical Trial. I developed a sinus infection about midway through Cycle 19 and it really knocked me out. All the side effects were much worse and I was dead the last 2 weeks of the cycle. I was able to finish it, though!

With any luck, the new cycle will be easier.

Latest CT Scan Results

Hi, All - I flew down to St. Louis on Wednesday with my aunt Sarol for company for my 12-week check up. We got some good news: No new tumors, no growth in the existing tumors, and a one millimeter shrinkage in the largest tumor in my lung. Yea!

The clinicians didn't have much to say about the study, as usual. They reprimanded me for losing 3 pounds in the last 12 weeks, but I'm not about to blow away in a strong wind and I'm just not going to be concerned about it. (If I drop below 150, I might get concerned, but I have a long, long way to go for that!) They did say that I'm tolerating the Sutent better than any of the other Missouri study participants. I know I'm the youngest person in the study in that location and I wonder if that has something to do with it. I have to say I really feel sorry for those who tolerate it less well than I - they must really be miserable.

My main side effects continue to be Hand-Foot Syndrome, anemia, fatigue, and of course the sexy white hair look the drug gives me. Except for the white hair, the side effects weren't too bad this last cycle.

I've chatted with other folks taking Sutent who have used DMSO to help combat some of the Hand-Foot Syndrome effects. If any of you have any experiences with that compound, I'd love to hear about them.

Speaking of Hand-Foot Syndrome, a story about a man who lost his fingerprints to it has been making the rounds. You can read about it here.

We had lunch with Sara's aunt Rosemary, which was fun. I really appreciate seeing a friendly face on these trips and it's good of her to drop what she's doing to meet me.

My next CT scan will be in mid-August and I'll get the results in St. Louis on August 17. I think all four of us might go down and watch the Cards or some other touristy-type stuff. The boys start school on August 19, so that will be our last chance for that kind of thing.

Thanks again for your continuing prayers and support. On to drug cycles 19 and 20!

John

Siphoning Results

Took my last dose of Cycle 18 of the Sutent last night. I'll start feeling better in a few days, which will be good as I'm singing in a concert on Sunday and I'd like to be up for that.

I'm anemic, etc, as usual, but this time it showed my blood sugar was high. I hope that doesn't continue, diabetes is really not what I want to deal with now.

Hand-Foot not so bad this time

I hope it continues! I've been using DMSO in the morning and evening, as well a lots of Bag Balm. It's seems to be helping.

Started Cycle 18

Well, started up the next cycle of Sutent this evening. Cycle 18. Man, it's hard to believe I've been on this for almost 2 years. I think it's 2 years April 19, actually - I'll have to check that out.

I hope the H-F is better this time. If there was some way to get that under control, this whole thing wouldn't be so bad. It really makes me miserable.

The Good Cancer? from Curetoday.com

Interesting article that I can't copy and past for some reason. It talks some about XL184 as a treatment for thyroid cancer. Click on the title or here to read the article.

Finished Cycle 17

Hi, All - took the last dose of Sutent for Cycle 17 last night.  It was a bad cycle - lots of pain from H-F Syndrome in my feet.  Not much peeling or flaking, just lots of pain.    Oh, well, it's not as bad as what some people face.

My step-mother, Joanne,  was recently diagnoised with cervical cancer.  She'll start chemo and radiation next week.   I hope things go well for her.  I'm not impressed by her descriptions of trying to set up appointments for surgical follow-up and for either the chemo or radiation treatments.  I'm really lucking in having the oncology team I have here in Lincoln.  One would think Joanne would have the same or better in Phoenix, but that doesn't seem to be the case.

Now have have two weeks off of the Sutent before starting Cycle 18 on April 15.  (That seems like an apropriate date, doesn't it?  ;-) ) 

I'll have a CT scan sometime late in May and will go down to St. Louis for the results and to pick up the next 2 cycles' drug supply on May 27.

Thanks for your continuing prayers and support.

John