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SUTENT is used to treat GIST (gastrointestinal stromal tumor). This is a rare cancer of the stomach, bowel, or esophagus. SUTENT is used when the medicine Gleevec^® (imatinib mesylate) did not stop the cancer from growing or when you cannot take Gleevec. Gleevec is a registered trademark of Novartis AG.

If your loved one has GIST, there are many ways you can help. The tools in this section were created to help you be a full partner in your loved one's care. That's where the SUTENT^® Treatment Partners Program comes in.

SUTENT Treatment Partners

Here’s how it works.

Step 1: Become someone’s Treatment Partner.

Your loved one may ask you to be his or her Treatment Partner. Or you can suggest it by sending an invitation from this site.

Step 2: Your Treatment Partner shares information with you.

There’s a section on this site with tools to help patients manage their treatment. They can then share this information with you so you can be involved.

Step 3: You use tools from this site to help support your Treatment Partner.

The tools in this section were created specifically for caregivers. They can help you give your loved one support during treatment.

NEXT: Become a Treatment Partner

SUTENT is used to treat advanced kidney cancer (advanced renal cell carcinoma or RCC).

SUTENT is used to treat GIST (gastrointestinal stromal tumor). This is a rare cancer of the stomach, bowel, or esophagus. SUTENT is used when the medicine Gleevec^® (imatinib mesylate) did not stop the cancer from growing or when you cannot take Gleevec.

Important Safety Information

SUTENT can cause serious liver problems, including death.

Tell your healthcare provider right away if you develop any of the following during treatment with SUTENT: itching; yellow eyes or skin; dark urine; or pain or discomfort in the right upper stomach area.

Your healthcare provider should do blood tests to check your liver function before you start taking SUTENT and during treatment.

SUTENT may cause heart problems. Heart problems may include heart failure, heart muscle problems (cardiomyopathy) or abnormal heart rhythm changes. Tell your healthcare provider if you feel dizzy, faint, very tired, have abnormal heartbeats, are short of breath, or have swollen feet and ankles while taking SUTENT.

SUTENT may cause high blood pressure. Your healthcare provider may check your blood pressure, and may treat you for high blood pressure.

SUTENT may cause bleeding sometimes leading to death. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you have any of following during treatment with SUTENT: serious bleeding; painful swollen stomach (abdomen); vomiting blood; black sticky stools; bloody urine; headache or change in your mental status.

SUTENT may cause hormone problems, including thyroid and adrenal gland problems. Your healthcare provider may do tests to check your thyroid and adrenal gland function during SUTENT treatment.

SUTENT may harm an unborn baby (cause birth defects). Do not become pregnant. If you do, tell your healthcare provider right away. Stop taking SUTENT. Do not breastfeed while taking SUTENT.

Using SUTENT with other medicines can cause serious side effects. Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines, vitamins, or herbal products you use.

You may have side effects or reactions to SUTENT. For most patients, these are moderate and may be managed, though some can be serious. Your healthcare provider may change your dose or stop your treatment. Some of the most common side effects include tiredness, weakness, fever, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, mouth sores, upset stomach, abdominal pain, constipation, skin or hair changes, taste changes, swelling, loss of appetite, and bleeding, such as from the nose or cuts. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any swelling or bleeding. Be sure to tell your healthcare provider about any new side effects you have, as well as any change or increase in any side effect.

Gleevec is a registered trademark of Novartis AG.

Please see patient Medication Guide and full prescribing information.

Pfizer is a licensee of the TRUSTe Privacy Program.

The health information contained herein is provided for educational purposes only and is not intended to replace discussions with a health care provider. All decisions regarding patient care must be made with a health care provider, considering the unique characteristics of the patient.

This product information provided in this site is intended only for residents of the United States. The products discussed herein may have different labeling in different countries.