any stage 4 signet ring cell survivors out there

I am not familiar with that
I am not familiar with that type of cancer, but I did want to welcome you to the board. You will find the people here are very supportive and very knowledgeable. Hope you get some responses soon... Take care.

I don't know much but....
Here's my story. My mom complained of a stomach ache, normally not a complainer so we took this seriously. No other symptoms. My mom was dx Stage IV colon cancer signet cell adenocarcinomatosis 30JUNE09 at 61 yrs old. Perfectly healthy otherwise. Dr says very rare. I haven't been successful in locating much info about it. We consulted with oncologist here in San Antonio who recommended we get second opinion at M D Anderson in Houston, TX which we did. The 2 oncologists came up with a plan. My mom started started chemo 3AUG09, had 2nd chemo 17AUG09. She feels crappy, nausea/extreme fatigue for about 4 days after chemo. The surgeon who discovered the cancer stated my mom had 3 months to live. When we told the oncologist this, they couldn't believe it, said he had no right nor the knowledge/expertise to make such a statement. The oncologists have said that with the chemo they feel confident that 5 years is reasonable to expect. My mom's faith and extremely confident attitude says she has much more than that. I only recently joined this discussion board but I will say this - there are some very brave, courageous people here that are willing to share their stories and whatever knowledge/insight they have. Do not give up. Fight the good fight. Be your own advocate or find a trusted friend or family member to be your advocate. Learn everything you can. Do NOT believe everything you read on the internet. I would also receommend that you find a support group in your area - others in your situation can provide support and a wealth of information. Things you didn't even know you should ask. I will certainly update you on anything I learn. I am a maniac about research. Even though I am a nurse, I don't know much about cancer and all that it involves. Continue to read this board and contribute, ask questions. Above all, remain positive. I believe attitude is 75% of the battle and I think others would agree. You will remain in my thoughts and prayers.
Janet

jheadley said:

Hey
I was diagnosed on 8/5 with Signet Ring Cell Carsinoma -- I am trying to fing the right Oncologist as I recover from surgery... My only course of action seems to be Chemo at this point..

Signet Ring cell
My husband was diagnosed with Stage IV signet ring cell cancer on 8/10. We have an oncologist but not sure what to expect at this point. He is only 47 and healthy other than the tumor that they found and removed and then they found it had spread to his small intestines and surrounding areas. He has 35 staples right now and is sore and weak. The doctor has said chemo. We don't know what to expect. We will be meeting with him on September 1st to learn more.

kapper48 said:

tnstudent please respond
You didn't leave your name so I dont know who I am talking to. I was also diagnosed with stage 4 signet ring cell in June of this year. It also spread to my small Intestines and my pelvic area. I started my chemo treatments on Monday of this week and got the pump off today I dont feel to bad other than a little headache, the meds they gave me seem to be working pretty good. If your husband would like to talk I would love to have someone to go through this journey with you can email me at patkapper@jbmarineco.com if you want we can exchange phone numbers and talk also. I am 49 years old with a loving wife and 5 daughters and 5 grand kids so as you can see I have alot to live for. I cant offer much but I know that being able to talk to someone else with the same cancer would be nice
Yours truley
Pat

Stage IIIC signet ring cell
I was diagnosed with Stage IIIC signet ring cell colon cancer in May, 08'. Fourteen out of the eighteen lymph nodes they removed had cancer in them, so my cancer was quite advanced for stage III. I had a resection right away after diagnosis, followed by 12 treatments of FOLFOX. I am still NED, which is not what I expected after everything I read about signet ring. My next scan is in five weeks, so we'll see how that goes.

I completely understand about this cancer being so scary. There is so little information available, and everything you read is so dire sounding.

My oncologist said she has a few other patients with signet ring. She treats it the same as any other high grade colon cancer--meaning, basically, the same chemo drugs and aggressive follow-up.

My best wishes to you. I know it is aweful. I have an almost eight year old daughter, and the thought of dying while she's still a child terrifies me.

Me too
I was diagnosed on 8/3 with signet ring adenocarcinoma of the appendix. What happens with this is the appendix explodes and spews tumor all over the abdomen. It ends up on the exterior of every organ in the abdomen and the wall of the abdomen. It is then called PMP. The standard treatment is FOLFOX chemo, a complete cytoreduction surgery, otherwise known as MOAS (the mother of all surgeries) followed by HIPEC, a hot abdominal chemo wash. Signet ring is the most agressive of all PMP. Google PMP, MOAS and HIPEC.

Helpfull links:

Yahoo group PMPBellyButtons
www.surgicaloncology.com
www.appendix-cancer.com

I can be reached directly at bserbu@aol.com

Barb

jk2628 said:

my wonderful husband
My husband, Jim had never been sick or in a hospital and then one day he got sick he went to the ER and was admitted and in 3 days we had a stage 4 SIGNET RING cancer and the surgeon told us he had weeks to months to live. That was 13 1/2 months ago. When the oncologist came in to see Jim he told him if he was ready to give up then his time would be short but if he was a fighter he couldn't give him a time but he would do all he could and he has.

The cancer is inoperable and no radiation can be done but Jim takes chemo 5FU every 2 weeks and he feels very tired for a couple of days but he is doing well. The small intestine was completely blocked and Jim could not eat anything but he not eats and the small intestine is open from the chemo shrinking the tumors.

We know it is a bad and rare cancer but he was told very little chance but he has been given that and he believes our doctor is the best. We are in NW Indiana and even though we are close to Chicago my husband wants to stay with our doctor because he has faith in him and he is such a fighter. Doctor told him just a few ago that he is doing amazing and has astounded all the doctors that have seen him in the past year.

Jim was diagnosed 1/19/2010 and is still alive, doing OK and back to work part time. He was a truck driver on local routes.

We hope for you the best and there is a God and he is still performing miracles everyday.

My Wife was diagnosed with
My Wife was diagnosed with appendecial cancer in Nov 2010 , she was supposed to undergo debulking surgery on Dec 27, 2010, The surgeon could not perform the surgery as the tumor was spread all over her abdomen and small intestine and doctors thought that her quality of life would significantly suffer due to the surgery so they did not remove the tumor. She is now undergoing chemotherapy , today was her third one and this would be a six chemo cycle.

her type of cancer is signet ring which is the rarest in appendix cancer and unfortunately not curable. she is being treated at Memorial Slone Ketering Cancer Center in New York City which is supposedly amongst the best cancer center in the country, Doctors are not very hopeful as they say not a lot of research is available due to the rarity of the cancer. We were looking at the heated chemo during surgery which is actually done in DC by a Dr Sugarbaker , but when he looked at the operative notes he declined to do the surgery as well.

she is feeling pretty good but when i read about this cancer i only see bad news, i am so grateful for your experience , it gives me something to look upto please do keep posting on his updates and i will do the same

Hi
I have stage IV signet ring cell mucinoid adenocarcinoma,which is rare, but I'm still here to talk to if you need it.

Hello Pat
I just sent an email but forgot to mention my name. My name is Charles and I live in Germany. My email address is HANRSC@Yahoo.com...on online daily.

Charles

babs8855 said:

Me too
I was diagnosed on 8/3 with signet ring adenocarcinoma of the appendix. What happens with this is the appendix explodes and spews tumor all over the abdomen. It ends up on the exterior of every organ in the abdomen and the wall of the abdomen. It is then called PMP. The standard treatment is FOLFOX chemo, a complete cytoreduction surgery, otherwise known as MOAS (the mother of all surgeries) followed by HIPEC, a hot abdominal chemo wash. Signet ring is the most agressive of all PMP. Google PMP, MOAS and HIPEC.

Helpfull links:

Yahoo group PMPBellyButtons
www.surgicaloncology.com
www.appendix-cancer.com

I can be reached directly at bserbu@aol.com

Barb

Me too
I just found out last week , burst appendix , signet Ring Cells all through my abdomen.

I feels like a dealth sentence, waiting for an OKay from Dutch Hipec specialist, scared lonely, and trying to put up a strong presence for my kids

Anyone out there with a treatment suggestion , I can take to my Dutch specialist

Signet seams to be resistant to normal treatments,
I feel the life going out of me.

GOD Bless everyone on the board.
Forrest

forrest hoekstra said:

Me too
I just found out last week , burst appendix , signet Ring Cells all through my abdomen.

I feels like a dealth sentence, waiting for an OKay from Dutch Hipec specialist, scared lonely, and trying to put up a strong presence for my kids

Anyone out there with a treatment suggestion , I can take to my Dutch specialist

Signet seams to be resistant to normal treatments,
I feel the life going out of me.

GOD Bless everyone on the board.
Forrest

still around
Sorry to heard that Pat has passed on, I hope his family can live further in peace

This board has not furnished any replies so I quess Pat is not the only one.

I wish everyone success in their own battle, even up hill battle know success

God bless and keep you

Forrest