I am new to this, and we have been overwhelmed

1hausharp
1hausharp Member Posts: 5
in Stomach Cancer #1

My husband has stage II stomach cancer, they immediately took out 3/4 of his stomach, that had the tumor. The next biopsy showed they missed some, microscopic pieces running along the blood vessels on his colon. They wanted to start treatment right away but his feeding tube went bad and he had emergency surgery 2 days before Christmas, due to septic shock. He first had 4 rounds of chemo over 2 months, then chemo and radiation for 5 weeks, now he has to return to another regimen of chemo for 2 months. He is 52 and the Doctors have given him a 51% chance of being alive in 3 years. He weighed 256lbs. and now weighs 169 lbs. I have read that his chances drop to 26% at 5 years, I am really scared. Can anyone help me?

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Comments

  • BeckyM2013
    BeckyM2013 Member Posts: 10
    #2
    Hello dear friend,

    I was diagnosed with stage 4 stomcah cancer in November 2012, after dealing with a cancerous tumor. My oncologist had me on a continuous round of chemo that was in a bag, that went everywhere I went. Although the chemo did some good, it was really not targeting the tumor. So I had surgery in April of 2013 to remove the tumor, and my stomach is the size of a baseball now. But they did find tiny cancer cells on my abdomin walls. In June of this year, they will be performing a flush. I do not know if this would work on your husband, but it could not hurt to ask. Google " flushing chemo ", and read up on it. If I do not have this done, I will not make it to Christmas. But I have a 30-40% chance of living maybe 5 years. I have not had any problems except the eating part. I have lost 5 pounds, but the doctor said that was nothing to worry about. I do have a feeding tube that I hook up to at night that runs 12 hours. I will pray for your husband and your family. I am 50 years old, and I am also scared. So is my family. Just do not give up.

  • 1hausharp
    1hausharp Member Posts: 5
    #3
    BeckyM2013 said:

    Hello dear friend,

    I was diagnosed with stage 4 stomcah cancer in November 2012, after dealing with a cancerous tumor. My oncologist had me on a continuous round of chemo that was in a bag, that went everywhere I went. Although the chemo did some good, it was really not targeting the tumor. So I had surgery in April of 2013 to remove the tumor, and my stomach is the size of a baseball now. But they did find tiny cancer cells on my abdomin walls. In June of this year, they will be performing a flush. I do not know if this would work on your husband, but it could not hurt to ask. Google " flushing chemo ", and read up on it. If I do not have this done, I will not make it to Christmas. But I have a 30-40% chance of living maybe 5 years. I have not had any problems except the eating part. I have lost 5 pounds, but the doctor said that was nothing to worry about. I do have a feeding tube that I hook up to at night that runs 12 hours. I will pray for your husband and your family. I am 50 years old, and I am also scared. So is my family. Just do not give up.

    Thank you for responding

    He was diagnosed in November 2012 also. You really seem to have such a positive attitude as does everyone we have met, through our (excuse me but I feel like we are doing this together) They had to do his tumor removal right away. I am sorry for your cancer, but we were told it was alittle more rare, and hadn't met anyone alive to talk about it.I will write again when I have more time and pray for you also. We live near Branson, Missouri. What part of the country are you from?

  • BeckyM2013
    BeckyM2013 Member Posts: 10
    #4
    Hello again

    Just remember you are not alone. I am here anytime you need someone to talk to. I have my days where I often wonder why me. I never knew there were so many people out there with gastric cancer. My doctor also told me it is a rare form. But my maternal grandmother and also my aunt had stomach cancer, but they had 2 different kind, as so do I. I do not know if I can be of much help to you. But like I said, it helps to talk with someone other than family members. I go tomorrow to talk to another associate of my doctor, who will perform the " chemo blast ". I am suppossed to have this surgery June 6th. I am hoping that this at least gives me a few more years with my family. I live in southeast Tennessee. I will pray for you and your husband, and your family, and hopefully we can beat this. Never give up sweetie.

  • BeckyM2013
    BeckyM2013 Member Posts: 10
    #5
    Hello again

    Just remember you are not alone. I am here anytime you need someone to talk to. I have my days where I often wonder why me. I never knew there were so many people out there with gastric cancer. My doctor also told me it is a rare form. But my maternal grandmother and also my aunt had stomach cancer, but they had 2 different kind, as so do I. I do not know if I can be of much help to you. But like I said, it helps to talk with someone other than family members. I go tomorrow to talk to another associate of my doctor, who will perform the " chemo blast ". I am suppossed to have this surgery June 6th. I am hoping that this at least gives me a few more years with my family. I live in southeast Tennessee. I will pray for you and your husband, and your family, and hopefully we can beat this. Never give up sweetie.

  • Mariet
    Mariet Member Posts: 1
    #6
    BeckyM2013 said:

    Hello again

    Just remember you are not alone. I am here anytime you need someone to talk to. I have my days where I often wonder why me. I never knew there were so many people out there with gastric cancer. My doctor also told me it is a rare form. But my maternal grandmother and also my aunt had stomach cancer, but they had 2 different kind, as so do I. I do not know if I can be of much help to you. But like I said, it helps to talk with someone other than family members. I go tomorrow to talk to another associate of my doctor, who will perform the " chemo blast ". I am suppossed to have this surgery June 6th. I am hoping that this at least gives me a few more years with my family. I live in southeast Tennessee. I will pray for you and your husband, and your family, and hopefully we can beat this. Never give up sweetie.

    We are really not alone

    I was dagnosed gastric cancer of stage I two months ago. Luckily in a very early stage, but anyway it was a shock to me, I am 46 and living in Estonia.

     Now I am about to have a total gastrectomy next Tuesday, 4th June. I have kept up my spirit, but few last days I have started to feel kind a panic. As my cancer in in a very early stage, I am woundering is there a chance after all that during the surgery they decide to keep at least a small part of my stomach. Of course, I asked the same guestion from my doctor, but he told me that escpecially in the early stage they try to be sure they remove the whole cancer and that is why they prefer to do the total gastrectomy. I just hope that they will make a best decision for me, but life without even a little piece of my stomach, sounds scary.

    Uhh, although I have read a lot of information about this subject there are million things I even cannot express. It is comforting to read here that there are plenty of survivors who have lived 10, 15 and 20 years after this surgery ... Couple of days and then I will be struggleing with the same issues as many of us here and it is good to know that here I  can always ge the support I definately will be needing.

     

  • anusha
    anusha Member Posts: 5
    #7
    hi

    my dad was diagnosed with stomach cancer with signet ring cells in april 2013..fortunately its confined to stomach itself so he underwent total gastrectomy with d2 lymph node dissection with omentum..all of this in a week after diagnosis...after recovering from surgery he had his 1st cycle of chemo yesterday....our oncologist siad he needs 6cycles of chemo plus radiation...he is 54 yrs old...being a doctor myself its very hard to accept this harsh news and to see my dad suffer is even more stressful....i can understand how scary it is to see our loved ones to battle this disease....but we need to stay strong and be optimistic.....i'll keep you in my prayers...

  • BeckyM2013
    BeckyM2013 Member Posts: 10
    #8
    Surgery

    Well, my surgery is set for June 6th 2013. The doctor said it would take between 8-10 hours to perform. And a long recovery. Even though I hate the thought of staying in the hospital for 2 weeks, I know this has to be done. This is my only chance, since this can be performed only once. I hope that everyone knows there is hope out there. God bless you all

  • Willo
    Willo Member Posts: 2
    #9
    BeckyM2013 said:

    Surgery

    Well, my surgery is set for June 6th 2013. The doctor said it would take between 8-10 hours to perform. And a long recovery. Even though I hate the thought of staying in the hospital for 2 weeks, I know this has to be done. This is my only chance, since this can be performed only once. I hope that everyone knows there is hope out there. God bless you all

    Hello

    My husband is just beginning the process before surgery for gastric cancer, we go in today to find out more of treatment planning.  Thank you for sharing, you are in our prayers, especialy on the 6th.

  • 1hausharp
    1hausharp Member Posts: 5
    #10
    BeckyM2013 said:

    Hello again

    Just remember you are not alone. I am here anytime you need someone to talk to. I have my days where I often wonder why me. I never knew there were so many people out there with gastric cancer. My doctor also told me it is a rare form. But my maternal grandmother and also my aunt had stomach cancer, but they had 2 different kind, as so do I. I do not know if I can be of much help to you. But like I said, it helps to talk with someone other than family members. I go tomorrow to talk to another associate of my doctor, who will perform the " chemo blast ". I am suppossed to have this surgery June 6th. I am hoping that this at least gives me a few more years with my family. I live in southeast Tennessee. I will pray for you and your husband, and your family, and hopefully we can beat this. Never give up sweetie.

    your chemo blast

    Good luck with your surgery,when you are feeling better, let me know more about the chemo blast, please.

  • 1hausharp
    1hausharp Member Posts: 5
    #11
    Mariet said:

    We are really not alone

    I was dagnosed gastric cancer of stage I two months ago. Luckily in a very early stage, but anyway it was a shock to me, I am 46 and living in Estonia.

     Now I am about to have a total gastrectomy next Tuesday, 4th June. I have kept up my spirit, but few last days I have started to feel kind a panic. As my cancer in in a very early stage, I am woundering is there a chance after all that during the surgery they decide to keep at least a small part of my stomach. Of course, I asked the same guestion from my doctor, but he told me that escpecially in the early stage they try to be sure they remove the whole cancer and that is why they prefer to do the total gastrectomy. I just hope that they will make a best decision for me, but life without even a little piece of my stomach, sounds scary.

    Uhh, although I have read a lot of information about this subject there are million things I even cannot express. It is comforting to read here that there are plenty of survivors who have lived 10, 15 and 20 years after this surgery ... Couple of days and then I will be struggleing with the same issues as many of us here and it is good to know that here I  can always ge the support I definately will be needing.

     

    To all survivors

    This site has been a blessing, we have not found any survivors around here, I do know that had they caught it in Stage I, our Doctors said chances for it to be curable, would have been in the 90% according to their studies. My husband is 52, with Stage IIb, and they took 3/4 of his, then biopsies showed more, just outside of where they cut. The hardest part is keeping your weight on, especially if having any other treatments. He had 4 rounds of chemo, then 5FU chemo continuous along with radiation for 5 weeks,he is now on another round of 4 chemo treatments, and then we will have more tests to see if it shows up. The waiting and not knowing is really hard.

  • jhones98
    jhones98 Member Posts: 4
    #12
    stage 1 stomach cancer and adenocarcinoma on small intestine

     

    Hi, my fiance was diagnosed with Stage 1 metastatic stomach cancer and adenocarcinoma in the intestines. He had surgery on May 29th and the "bad" parts were taken out. Surgery had taken a toll on his health physically and now he is very weak. He started chemo and radiation a few days after. Just today I received a word that he had been having seizures since morning and the doctors are afraid he had some kind of a stroke, which I am puzzled as he didn't have any heart problems and was physically fit, as far as i know since he works in the military, he is 35. Is this a common effect of the treatment or should I worry?  What are the chances of him surviving? Please help, I don't want to lose him, not now and not this way... 

  • JennySC
    JennySC Member Posts: 29
    #13
    jhones98 said:

    stage 1 stomach cancer and adenocarcinoma on small intestine

     

    Hi, my fiance was diagnosed with Stage 1 metastatic stomach cancer and adenocarcinoma in the intestines. He had surgery on May 29th and the "bad" parts were taken out. Surgery had taken a toll on his health physically and now he is very weak. He started chemo and radiation a few days after. Just today I received a word that he had been having seizures since morning and the doctors are afraid he had some kind of a stroke, which I am puzzled as he didn't have any heart problems and was physically fit, as far as i know since he works in the military, he is 35. Is this a common effect of the treatment or should I worry?  What are the chances of him surviving? Please help, I don't want to lose him, not now and not this way... 

    Hi jhones98

     

    Your finance should have a good chance to recover from the treatment as he's young and strong. Chemo has side-effects and the surgery could have caused the so-called "stroke".

    Thoughts and prayers are with you and your finance!

    And I have joined this stomach cancer group at Facebook, after Robley recommended at this site. I have found more people responding questions there.

    Here is  the link if you are interested:https://www.facebook.com/login.php?next=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fgroups%2F152766261499442%2F343180099124723%2F%3Fnotif_t%3Dgroup_comment_reply

  • JennySC
    JennySC Member Posts: 29
    #14
    jhones98 said:

    stage 1 stomach cancer and adenocarcinoma on small intestine

     

    Hi, my fiance was diagnosed with Stage 1 metastatic stomach cancer and adenocarcinoma in the intestines. He had surgery on May 29th and the "bad" parts were taken out. Surgery had taken a toll on his health physically and now he is very weak. He started chemo and radiation a few days after. Just today I received a word that he had been having seizures since morning and the doctors are afraid he had some kind of a stroke, which I am puzzled as he didn't have any heart problems and was physically fit, as far as i know since he works in the military, he is 35. Is this a common effect of the treatment or should I worry?  What are the chances of him surviving? Please help, I don't want to lose him, not now and not this way... 

    Best wishes

    Please be positive and strong!

  • jhones98
    jhones98 Member Posts: 4
    #15
    JennySC said:

    Hi jhones98

     

    Your finance should have a good chance to recover from the treatment as he's young and strong. Chemo has side-effects and the surgery could have caused the so-called "stroke".

    Thoughts and prayers are with you and your finance!

    And I have joined this stomach cancer group at Facebook, after Robley recommended at this site. I have found more people responding questions there.

    Here is  the link if you are interested:https://www.facebook.com/login.php?next=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fgroups%2F152766261499442%2F343180099124723%2F%3Fnotif_t%3Dgroup_comment_reply

    Thanks JennySC

    Thanks for the reply, it gave me hope.  I have no updates as to how he is right now coz I am in the Philippines and he is in Japan. I only receive updates from his sister and I hope he is recovering now...

     

    I will definitely check on the facebook group.

     

    thanks again...

  • JennySC
    JennySC Member Posts: 29
    #16
    jhones98 said:

    Thanks JennySC

    Thanks for the reply, it gave me hope.  I have no updates as to how he is right now coz I am in the Philippines and he is in Japan. I only receive updates from his sister and I hope he is recovering now...

     

    I will definitely check on the facebook group.

     

    thanks again...

    jhones98, you are very welcome

    Hi, jhones98,

    I think, I have seen you at FB. And I hope you get some support and positive energies there.

    I still often visit CSN sites to get new information and meet new people.

    Best wishes to you and your fiance during this difficult time.

     

  • jhones98
    jhones98 Member Posts: 4
    #17
    JennySC said:

    jhones98, you are very welcome

    Hi, jhones98,

    I think, I have seen you at FB. And I hope you get some support and positive energies there.

    I still often visit CSN sites to get new information and meet new people.

    Best wishes to you and your fiance during this difficult time.

     

    devastating

    Hi JennySC,

     

    It was so devastating to have heard the news coming from his sister.  He had passed away last Saturday, June 8th.  He had stroke and became unconscious and had not recovered from it.  Our spirits were broken.  The worst part is, I am miles away from him and I can't attend the wake and the cremation.  It was just so sad that i really affected me as a whole. I can't explain how i feel.  I have so many questions that will not be answered ever.  I just look at the brighter side, he didn't have to suffer that much...

     

    Thanks everyone for the prayers...

  • 1hausharp
    1hausharp Member Posts: 5
    #18
    jhones98 said:

    devastating

    Hi JennySC,

     

    It was so devastating to have heard the news coming from his sister.  He had passed away last Saturday, June 8th.  He had stroke and became unconscious and had not recovered from it.  Our spirits were broken.  The worst part is, I am miles away from him and I can't attend the wake and the cremation.  It was just so sad that i really affected me as a whole. I can't explain how i feel.  I have so many questions that will not be answered ever.  I just look at the brighter side, he didn't have to suffer that much...

     

    Thanks everyone for the prayers...

    My prayers are with you

    My Dad passed away 8 1/2 years ago from stage IV Melanoma, they said we should have about a year with him, but he passed away 3 weeks later. Cancer was his worse fear, stress and worry shortened his life, but he had strong beliefs, and when the time came close, he asked us to let him go. It was very peaceful. I also had 2 brain aneurisms rupture when I was 30 years old, when the second one ruptured I heard them telling everyone I was dying, the next thing that happened really shook any doubts in my faith. I was watching my body and I felt no more pain, I felt warm and safe, it was the most euphoric feeling you could ever imagine. No tunnels or lights, but enough to reasure me that God will not give us more than we can handle. Just as fast I was back and the pain was intense, I had 5 children and one was 2 weeks old. I am no longer afraid of death, and I talked with my patients when I volunteered for hospice, when they were afraid I would share this story. My husband and I are trying to enjoy each day, instead of worring about something we can not control. I feel your anguish, be blessed that he passed on easily.

  • BeckyM2013
    BeckyM2013 Member Posts: 10
    #19
    surgery went well

    It has been a rough road, and still is. My surgery was completed, and I was in the hospital for a week. We do not know for sure if the " chemo blast " worked, but the doctors are optimistic. I have lost a lot of weight, and do not have the urge to eat. They have put me on a feeding tube for 20 hrs a day to try to rebuild my weight and strength. I am afraid they will put me back in the hospital. Cannot try chemo again until I get stronger. This surgery has taken a lot more out of me physically and mentally than the first surgery. They said it was going to be a long road ahead, and I believe it. It seems I was so strong and optimistic at first, but sometimes I just sit and cry. No one is giving up on me but me. I wonder how long I can keep this up. I am so very sorry for those that have lost loved ones to this awful disease. And I continue to pray for all those that are still fighting. God be with you all.

  • JennySC
    JennySC Member Posts: 29
    #20
    BeckyM2013 said:

    surgery went well

    It has been a rough road, and still is. My surgery was completed, and I was in the hospital for a week. We do not know for sure if the " chemo blast " worked, but the doctors are optimistic. I have lost a lot of weight, and do not have the urge to eat. They have put me on a feeding tube for 20 hrs a day to try to rebuild my weight and strength. I am afraid they will put me back in the hospital. Cannot try chemo again until I get stronger. This surgery has taken a lot more out of me physically and mentally than the first surgery. They said it was going to be a long road ahead, and I believe it. It seems I was so strong and optimistic at first, but sometimes I just sit and cry. No one is giving up on me but me. I wonder how long I can keep this up. I am so very sorry for those that have lost loved ones to this awful disease. And I continue to pray for all those that are still fighting. God be with you all.

    Surgery went well

    Hi, BeckyM,

    Great to know that your surgery went well! Hopefully you will be cancer free soon!

    My hushand has been fighting very hard on this cancer.

    Thank you for keeping us posted with this good news. And you and other cancer fighters will be in our thoughts and prayers!

     

  • BeckyM2013
    BeckyM2013 Member Posts: 10
    #21
    JennySC said:

    Surgery went well

    Hi, BeckyM,

    Great to know that your surgery went well! Hopefully you will be cancer free soon!

    My hushand has been fighting very hard on this cancer.

    Thank you for keeping us posted with this good news. And you and other cancer fighters will be in our thoughts and prayers!

     

    Hope and Prayers from Tennessee

    I would like to express how strong I think you all are. Anyone with cancer or who have/had family members with cancer knows the devestastion that you have to go through. At times, it can be very tough, not only physically but mentally. You feel worn down, sick, aggravated and sometimes hopeless. Even a strong family can feel weak. I myself, at times, have felt like giving up. My oldest daughter asked me one day, while I was in bed, " Mom, you are tired arent you ? " And I felt my tears, and I said " Yes baby I am ". I was tired of not eating, the chemo, the doctor visits, just everything. But I see so many people on here, and I know we can fight together, we can beat this. I may be rambling on, but it feels good to have others to talk to. Keeping you all in my prayers.

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