Stomach Cancer Stage IV

bestwishes
bestwishes Member Posts: 2
edited October 2011 in Stomach Cancer #1
Aloha, My husband has been plagued with Stomach Cancer Stage IV on the first of September 2011; he is doing chemo and has many junk side effects. I think if you treat each symptom accordingly they won't suffer as much. As for the chemo; my thinking is that we are just buying time because of the odds! Dr. says he may survive because he is only 39yrs. and that he is in good shape and heart is good-so he "may" make it.

I keep him close to his family members so that he can have extra energy to survive this ordeal. He seems to happier and seems to have more energy-I am happy that they come around ;) His family is very worried but I want them to keep up the fun stuff and bring family albums so that they can reminise and laugh out loud !!! This is HEATHLY!

As for the rest, it is in the hands of the great creator:) I will enjoy everyday I am given with my husband... I cannot believe that it has choosen him but life is tricky and we need to endure. . .

My heart goes out to all those with any disease that is life threatening... It is nothing to take lightly and it is not something you wish on anyone... Please enjoy them and make their life as peaceful as possible. Ask your doctor questions and do research to help yourself get through it and find peace within yourself; you will need it.

much love and Aloha to you all...

Comments

  • yohab
    yohab Member Posts: 16
    My Husband too
    Hello,
    We are in the same boat, my husband is only 40 yrs old, was diagnosed 4 wks ago.never smoke, never drank alcohol his whole life and yet he got it. We have 2 girls, 6 and 4 yrs. old. I would like to keep ion touch and know how your situation is if you dont mind.
  • have2believe
    have2believe Member Posts: 134
    yohab said:

    My Husband too
    Hello,
    We are in the same boat, my husband is only 40 yrs old, was diagnosed 4 wks ago.never smoke, never drank alcohol his whole life and yet he got it. We have 2 girls, 6 and 4 yrs. old. I would like to keep ion touch and know how your situation is if you dont mind.

    keep the faith
    I'm the caregiver of my mom. She's 59. Diagnosed in 2009 met to distant lymph node. She's gone through chemo and is currently on 5-fu. She's also had cisplatin and irinotecan as well as folfox. She also had the no risk factors. I know 3 people who were diagnosed stage 4 who currently have no evidence of disease. One mets to the lungs, one mets to the lungs and node, and one mets to the liver.

    It's really hard sometimes, and I've broken down a lot. At the same time, it's important not to let it consume you. Make some time for yourself, however small it seem.

    L
  • yohab
    yohab Member Posts: 16

    keep the faith
    I'm the caregiver of my mom. She's 59. Diagnosed in 2009 met to distant lymph node. She's gone through chemo and is currently on 5-fu. She's also had cisplatin and irinotecan as well as folfox. She also had the no risk factors. I know 3 people who were diagnosed stage 4 who currently have no evidence of disease. One mets to the lungs, one mets to the lungs and node, and one mets to the liver.

    It's really hard sometimes, and I've broken down a lot. At the same time, it's important not to let it consume you. Make some time for yourself, however small it seem.

    L

    My Husband is taking Xeloda
    My Husband is taking Xeloda instead of the 5fu because he is still able to eat/swallow orally but its giving him so much nausea and vomiting.
    It is heart breaking to see him so miserable. Those people that you know who has mets on the lungs and liver, how long ago were they diagnosed?
  • have2believe
    have2believe Member Posts: 134
    yohab said:

    My Husband is taking Xeloda
    My Husband is taking Xeloda instead of the 5fu because he is still able to eat/swallow orally but its giving him so much nausea and vomiting.
    It is heart breaking to see him so miserable. Those people that you know who has mets on the lungs and liver, how long ago were they diagnosed?

    xeloda is tough
    It was the hand and foot syndrome that was really rough- had difficulty walking and buttoning up clothes. Did the drs give you anti-nasea drugs? I hope they work. Also, please make sure you let the dr know. They might lower the dosage or change the treatment schedule or switch to 5-fu. It's really tough seeing your loved one tired and just not feeling wells. It's hard. The one with mets to the lung was diagnosed in 2008. The drs didn't realized it was in the lungs until they found a spot and it was removed by surgery. The person who was diagnosed with mets to lungs and lymph was diagnosed early 2009. She's only had chemo.
  • have2believe
    have2believe Member Posts: 134
    yohab said:

    My Husband is taking Xeloda
    My Husband is taking Xeloda instead of the 5fu because he is still able to eat/swallow orally but its giving him so much nausea and vomiting.
    It is heart breaking to see him so miserable. Those people that you know who has mets on the lungs and liver, how long ago were they diagnosed?

    also wanted to add
    You might want to ask your dr about 5-fu because xeloda's side effects can be a lot more rough than 5-fu. I'm very thankful that my mom doesn't have any issues with eating or swallowing, but it was the skin peeling and hand and foot syndrome with the xeloda that was tough.
  • yohab
    yohab Member Posts: 16

    also wanted to add
    You might want to ask your dr about 5-fu because xeloda's side effects can be a lot more rough than 5-fu. I'm very thankful that my mom doesn't have any issues with eating or swallowing, but it was the skin peeling and hand and foot syndrome with the xeloda that was tough.

    Switch to 5fu
    Thanks for responding. They switched him to 5fu after his second round. He had his 3rd round but he is still miserable we have been going back and forth to ER or Urgent Care. After his 2nd round he got fever and his WNC and platelets dropped so he had to stay in the hospital. He was growing weaker and weaker because he cant eat much and in the last 2 weeks he cant even take jello because his hurting and nauseas. They tried to insert a feeding tube for nutririon but the opening to his intestine was completely obstructed. The good news is that the cancer in his stomach was smaller when the scoped him last Friday. We havent done the PET scan to see if he really is responding to the Chemo. Now we are considering surgery because of obstruction. W will see our Surgeon this week and go from there. I know it will push back the Chemo but we have to address malnutrition and obstruction.