Sunitinib and Diarrhea: What Users Say

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

Sunitinib for Renal Cell Carcinoma "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."

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

Sunitinib for Renal Cell Carcinoma "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..."

• Hot...
• July 26, 2016

Sunitinib for Renal Cell Carcinoma "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."

• mrd...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• July 23, 2013

Sunitinib for Pancreatic Cancer "I was put on Sutent (37.5 mg) after chemo failed to stabilize my liver metastasis. Sutent helped to shrink the tumors, but the side effects were too many. I got blisters on my hands and feet, my hair turned grey. I had diarrhea and gas all day. Overall, my quality of life was severely compromised, and it was even hard for me to walk. Finally, they changed my medicine to Afinitor, which did a good job without any side effects."

• Nut...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 30, 2022

For Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumor "Caused 6 months of diarrhea, which led to bloody colitis. Lost taste on tongue, gained short-term memory problem, increased sensitivity of the bottom of both feet (painful), turned hair white all over body, always felt a lump in the throat. Overall quality of life suffered tremendously. Most tumors had no change or grew."

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

Sunitinib for Renal Cell Carcinoma "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."

• Neu...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• August 15, 2017

Sunitinib for Pancreatic Cancer "I'm 63, diagnosed with stage 4 pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor (PNET) on 5/18/16. I was taking Afinitor until January of 2017, but my tumor stopped shrinking, and I was developing a mass in my lungs from the drug. I started taking 50 mg of Sutent in January 2017, 28 days on and 14 days off. Side effects were mild sores on the sides of my tongue, hair and beard turning white, and the bottom of my big toe became really sore, and the skin peeling off during the 28 days on. During the 14 days off, everything returned to normal. Starting today, 8/15/17, I'm being reduced to 37.5 mg to see if this will stop my big toe from hurting on the bottom and the skin from peeling. My tongue barely gets sore now, and my hair color has gone back to normal. I get a Sandostatin shot monthly for the diarrhea."