My brother was just diagnosed with Stage IV Stomach Cancer...has already spread to Liver

erict072
erict072 Member Posts: 9
edited March 2014 in Stomach Cancer #1
My brother is 41 years old and was just diagnosed with Stage IV Stomach Cancer that has spread to his liver and possibly his pelvis. He's had a hard life, suffering from Lupus @ age 9 which lead to kidney failure and 10 years on Dialysis. In 2000 I donated a kidney to him. He developed diabetes some five years after the transplant and sufferred the occassional seizure. Needless to say our entire family is devastated as cancer was never on the radar. The above will tell you that he's a fighter, but we're all very aware of the odds we're up against. We've found a very caring Oncologist in Sarasota, Florida who is considering treatment with the drug Herceptin. We know what he has is not curable as things stand today, but we're hoping that we can buy a little more time for him...you never what medical breakthroughs tomorrow may bring. Any advice and/or prayers are very welcomed.

Thanks for listening,

Eric
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Comments

  • Tina Blondek
    Tina Blondek Member Posts: 1,500 Member
    #2
    Hello Eric and welcome to
    Hello Eric and welcome to you your brother and your family. You are a wonderful brother for posting this. Wow...he has been through a whole lot in his only 41 years. This is all new and a shock for all of you. The shock will wear off soon. His stomach cancer may be treatable through surgery, the liver....not so sure. I have heard of this treatment herceptin. It is very well known, and very good. He may not be curable today, but he is treatable, which may shrink tumors enough for surgery. One day at a time. Get him to Florida fast and start these treatments. Let us know how he is doing. I was a caregiver for my dad. He lost his battle with esophageal cancer that went to his liver in March 2010.
    Tina in Va
  • dustmagnet7
    dustmagnet7 Member Posts: 27
    #3
    Never say "not curable"
    Feel free to say that a cure for the cancer is statistically improbable, but there is always hope. I was daignosed a year ago with stage 4 stomach cancer that spread to my intestines and omentum. My original diagnosis was about a year to live. I'm pleased to say that I am cancer free today and plan on staying that way. I realize it can still come back, but I refuse to give it a chance. Stay strong and keep your brother fighting!
  • Eric Grush
    Eric Grush Member Posts: 10
    #4
    dustmagnet7 said:

    Never say "not curable"
    Feel free to say that a cure for the cancer is statistically improbable, but there is always hope. I was daignosed a year ago with stage 4 stomach cancer that spread to my intestines and omentum. My original diagnosis was about a year to live. I'm pleased to say that I am cancer free today and plan on staying that way. I realize it can still come back, but I refuse to give it a chance. Stay strong and keep your brother fighting!

    It is good to hear your
    It is good to hear your story dustmagnet7, and I like your point: Never say not curable. We may face some tough odds, but there is always hope. I was diagnosed with Stage 4 stomach cancer three months ago.
  • erict072
    erict072 Member Posts: 9
    #5
    Eric Grush said:

    It is good to hear your
    It is good to hear your story dustmagnet7, and I like your point: Never say not curable. We may face some tough odds, but there is always hope. I was diagnosed with Stage 4 stomach cancer three months ago.

    Update on my Brother
    Things are not going well for him. He's lost a lot of weight and he's essentially shut everyone out...except my mom. He's afraid, hurting both physically and emotionally and alone and based on his previous medical history, I can't rule out that he no longer has fight left in him. I feel completely helpless..I thought I saved his life ten years ago with the kidney transplant and now this. He cancelled his PET scan...fearing what the results might be. I know I need to be there for him, but I struggle to find the things to say. Just needing to vent a little.
  • Eric Grush
    Eric Grush Member Posts: 10
    #6
    erict072 said:

    Update on my Brother
    Things are not going well for him. He's lost a lot of weight and he's essentially shut everyone out...except my mom. He's afraid, hurting both physically and emotionally and alone and based on his previous medical history, I can't rule out that he no longer has fight left in him. I feel completely helpless..I thought I saved his life ten years ago with the kidney transplant and now this. He cancelled his PET scan...fearing what the results might be. I know I need to be there for him, but I struggle to find the things to say. Just needing to vent a little.

    My prayers are with you
    erict072,

    I don't know what to say, other than that my prayers are with you and your brother. I'm a similar age and the same stage (IV). I also sometimes feel like shutting people out and not fighting -- he may just need some space and time to process things for now. Things may change with time.
  • erict072
    erict072 Member Posts: 9
    #7
    Eric Grush said:

    My prayers are with you
    erict072,

    I don't know what to say, other than that my prayers are with you and your brother. I'm a similar age and the same stage (IV). I also sometimes feel like shutting people out and not fighting -- he may just need some space and time to process things for now. Things may change with time.

    He changed his mind about the PET Scan
    Having it done today. Eric, feel free to shoot me a private message and let me know how you're doing. Any and all information you could share with me would be GREATLY appreciated.
  • neverquit
    neverquit Member Posts: 220 Member
    #8
    erict072 said:

    He changed his mind about the PET Scan
    Having it done today. Eric, feel free to shoot me a private message and let me know how you're doing. Any and all information you could share with me would be GREATLY appreciated.

    Glad to hear that your
    Glad to hear that your brother changed his mind about the PET Scan. My prayers are with you.
  • erict072
    erict072 Member Posts: 9
    #9
    neverquit said:

    Glad to hear that your
    Glad to hear that your brother changed his mind about the PET Scan. My prayers are with you.

    Good News
    PET scan came back better than expected. We were afraid it would show mets to the pelvic bone based on the preliminary CAT. PET showed no mets to the pelvis or bladder. There were lesions on the liver, but we knew that (largest was 1.5 cm...not sure what that means in terms of the cancer). We'll take this news as a small victory.
  • neverquit
    neverquit Member Posts: 220 Member
    #10
    erict072 said:

    Good News
    PET scan came back better than expected. We were afraid it would show mets to the pelvic bone based on the preliminary CAT. PET showed no mets to the pelvis or bladder. There were lesions on the liver, but we knew that (largest was 1.5 cm...not sure what that means in terms of the cancer). We'll take this news as a small victory.

    That is good news. I am
    That is good news. I am praying for your brother that he wins this battle. Keep the faith and I wish you victory.
  • erict072
    erict072 Member Posts: 9
    #11
    neverquit said:

    That is good news. I am
    That is good news. I am praying for your brother that he wins this battle. Keep the faith and I wish you victory.

    We thought he was doing better...
    Unfortunately, My brother has decided to forego any further treatments. He seems much more resolute in his decision. He hasn't changed his diet either. I know he's had a hard life, but I feel utterly dissappointed in this decision and I hurt for him and my parents. I truly believe my brothers perceived lack of hope is deadlier to him than the cancer. For those of you battling this disease, please don't lose hope and continue to fight even in the most dire of circumstances.
  • erict072
    erict072 Member Posts: 9
    #12
    erict072 said:

    We thought he was doing better...
    Unfortunately, My brother has decided to forego any further treatments. He seems much more resolute in his decision. He hasn't changed his diet either. I know he's had a hard life, but I feel utterly dissappointed in this decision and I hurt for him and my parents. I truly believe my brothers perceived lack of hope is deadlier to him than the cancer. For those of you battling this disease, please don't lose hope and continue to fight even in the most dire of circumstances.

    Please take a moment to read this article
    It's about my brother's battle in Sunday's edition of the Tampa Tribune: http://www2.tbo.com/content/2011/mar/20/BANEWSO1-the-illness-comes-second/life/

    He's not long for this world...please keep him in your prayers.
  • have2believe
    have2believe Member Posts: 134
    #13
    erict072 said:

    Please take a moment to read this article
    It's about my brother's battle in Sunday's edition of the Tampa Tribune: http://www2.tbo.com/content/2011/mar/20/BANEWSO1-the-illness-comes-second/life/

    He's not long for this world...please keep him in your prayers.

    your brother has been through so much!
    I will keep him in my prayers. He is such a wonderful person and through everything, knows that cancer does not define him. I wish your brother, you, and your family much strength. Please keep us updated and thank you for shareing the article.
  • neverquit
    neverquit Member Posts: 220 Member
    #14
    erict072 said:

    Please take a moment to read this article
    It's about my brother's battle in Sunday's edition of the Tampa Tribune: http://www2.tbo.com/content/2011/mar/20/BANEWSO1-the-illness-comes-second/life/

    He's not long for this world...please keep him in your prayers.

    I read the article about
    I read the article about your brother; he is an amazing person. May your brother, you and the rest of your family get a miracle!
  • idedona
    idedona Member Posts: 7
    #15
    hi eric
    my brother 34, was also just recently diagnosed with stage 4 stomach cancer which spread to his liver. we are looking to send him to germany where he will have a chemo sensitivity test done to see which chemo drug is most effective on him then he will have a combination of IPT and hyperthermia. The success rate is very high there. hope everything goes well with your brother.

    iliana
  • idedona
    idedona Member Posts: 7
    #16
    erict072 said:

    We thought he was doing better...
    Unfortunately, My brother has decided to forego any further treatments. He seems much more resolute in his decision. He hasn't changed his diet either. I know he's had a hard life, but I feel utterly dissappointed in this decision and I hurt for him and my parents. I truly believe my brothers perceived lack of hope is deadlier to him than the cancer. For those of you battling this disease, please don't lose hope and continue to fight even in the most dire of circumstances.

    sometimes better for no chemo
    Sometimes its better not to do chemo. chemo can spread the cancer faster and give your brother a poor quality of life. look into doing integrated treatments. he may really like it. i know it's easier for me to say because i'm not the one with cancer but your brother has to try to be optamistic. he should say i will beat this and he will.

    iliana
  • erict072
    erict072 Member Posts: 9
    #17
    idedona said:

    hi eric
    my brother 34, was also just recently diagnosed with stage 4 stomach cancer which spread to his liver. we are looking to send him to germany where he will have a chemo sensitivity test done to see which chemo drug is most effective on him then he will have a combination of IPT and hyperthermia. The success rate is very high there. hope everything goes well with your brother.

    iliana

    Update on my brother
    My brother is coming to the end of his battle with gastric cancer. We're asking our family, friends and anyone so inclined to please consider inundating him with cards, letters or words of encouragement. His address is: Luis Torres 8801 Hunters Lake Drive #1237, Tampa, FL 33647. Please consider posting this on your FaceBook Walls so he can move on surrounded with love. Thanks.
  • neverquit
    neverquit Member Posts: 220 Member
    #18
    erict072 said:

    Update on my brother
    My brother is coming to the end of his battle with gastric cancer. We're asking our family, friends and anyone so inclined to please consider inundating him with cards, letters or words of encouragement. His address is: Luis Torres 8801 Hunters Lake Drive #1237, Tampa, FL 33647. Please consider posting this on your FaceBook Walls so he can move on surrounded with love. Thanks.

    Erict072. Your brother is
    Erict072. Your brother is very, very lucky to have you on this journey with him. I wish you both peace, love and a miracle. And if Luis must move on, I wish him freedom from pain and suffering. I hope he meets my husband Mike (passed 1/23/2011 from gastric cancer also) on the other side and that Mike shows him the ropes (as I know he will). I just sent a card to your brother and hope it serves to encourage him. Many prayers and hugs.
  • worried for a friend
    worried for a friend Member Posts: 2
    #19
    Tina Blondek said:

    Hello Eric and welcome to
    Hello Eric and welcome to you your brother and your family. You are a wonderful brother for posting this. Wow...he has been through a whole lot in his only 41 years. This is all new and a shock for all of you. The shock will wear off soon. His stomach cancer may be treatable through surgery, the liver....not so sure. I have heard of this treatment herceptin. It is very well known, and very good. He may not be curable today, but he is treatable, which may shrink tumors enough for surgery. One day at a time. Get him to Florida fast and start these treatments. Let us know how he is doing. I was a caregiver for my dad. He lost his battle with esophageal cancer that went to his liver in March 2010.
    Tina in Va

    I have a friend with

    I have a friend with diagnosis of gastric cancer one month ago. She is 35 years old and she is the mom of two babies. This is a sad story, but the worst is she cannot eat solid food because the tumor is blocking the pilorus, and doctors have sent her to her home with liquid diet. She only drink the third part or less of the amount she need to consume, and she is very skinny and weak. I am worried about the criteria of doctors, because they say the parenteral feeding is "feeding the tumor", and this is the reason because she is only with liquid diet. I would like to talk with an expert to knos if this is true or maybe is just the excuse of doctors to avoid the cost of the parenteral feeding.
    I will appreciate your comments
  • erict072
    erict072 Member Posts: 9
    #20
    neverquit said:

    Erict072. Your brother is
    Erict072. Your brother is very, very lucky to have you on this journey with him. I wish you both peace, love and a miracle. And if Luis must move on, I wish him freedom from pain and suffering. I hope he meets my husband Mike (passed 1/23/2011 from gastric cancer also) on the other side and that Mike shows him the ropes (as I know he will). I just sent a card to your brother and hope it serves to encourage him. Many prayers and hugs.

    Today I lost my brother
    Today I held my brother as he breathed his last breath. Thank you to everyone who has sent their thoughts, prayers, cards, etc.
  • Faithful_Angel
    Faithful_Angel Member Posts: 86
    #21
    erict072 said:

    Today I lost my brother
    Today I held my brother as he breathed his last breath. Thank you to everyone who has sent their thoughts, prayers, cards, etc.

    My deepest Condolences,
    I am so sorry for your loss I know it's never easy and I am facing the same thing with my father sometimes soon. Know that he is at peace now, I know it's not real comforting for you right now having to deal with your own grief but know we are here for you anytime you need.

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