Has anyone survived stage 4 stomach cancer?

Hi there, I had all my stomach removed, chemo and radiotherapy in 2010, I had stage4 cancer. Luckily it hadnt metastised elsewhere. The whole treatment was a huge ordeal, and if I had to go thru it again, I would seriously think about it!! However, although, my quality of life has changed drastically, I am still here to tell the tale 3 years on. It is very life changing either way, so good luck to you and yours!

Hillarjr said:

Fat and happy two years after Stage 4 diagnosis
I was diagnosed with stage 4 adenocarcinoma of the stomach, HER-2 positive, full stomach wall thickness, lots of positive lymph nodes, maybe a tiny metastasis to the peritoneum. Partial gastrectomy, oxaloplatin for 6 or 7 cycles (yes, I do have some chemobrain), Xeloda two weeks on, one week off since then. Herceptin infusions every three weeks since them.

Currently, I am almost two years out with no cancer symptoms (only treatment side effects) and no evidence of disease. My long term prognosis remains a little questionable, but the prognosis for stage 4 is much less grim than it was even a few years ago,particularly stage 4 that is HER-2 positive.

I first read this thread two years ago and almost despaired. Please do not despair. In addition to the much improved three aments now available, there several more in development that may be available in the next couple years :-)

Hi Hillarjr!! Im in the UK. My story is very similar to yours.  Did you have a total gastrectomy also? and do you struggle with your eating if so?

ritak721 said:

My boyfriend(53years old) is suffering from Stage IV gastric cancer with peritoneal carcinomatosis. He went trough Subtotal Gastrectomy,Chemo and Radiation. Originally he was diagnosed with Stomach CA in July 2011. All treatment was finished in February 2012. On May 1st the PET scan showed NO cancer and we were so happy about it! However, this happiness was short-lived because at the end of May he started having problems with digesting his food; the food would stay and lay in his stomach until he had to throw it all up. Doctors tried many endoscopies and scans and said that the area where his stomach is connected to his small intestine was closed. So, apparently he had a recurrence of the cancer and this time the peritoneal area is involved. Now he gets all his feedings trough IV TPN. GI Doc was able to place two stents,but it makes no difference, he still can not eat anything. We have been from one hospital to another, from second opinion to third. In the beginning it was very promising that things would be okay and he would recover, but now the doctors don't want to do any surgery to clean the tumor and fix the blockage issue. We were hopping for HIPEC surgery at CTCA,but it's all been turned down because the surgeon thinks his cancer is too advanced and therefore the surgery may not work. I read a lot of articles, saw videos about surgeons who performed this HIPEC surgery successfully, and this made me belive that HIPEC is the only hope we have left. I don't know what to do anymore and how to help him! He gets continuous abdomen pain, like a bloating pain with nausea all the time, and only IV pain meds help for a short time before he needs to receive more.
Now he (we) in the hospital for a week already treating a PNA. Still very confused about everything is going on! Our last hope is Holistic Family Medicine with Dr.Thomas Cowan here in San Francisco. Tomorrow we have a phone appointment to discuss my boyfriend diagnosis and plan of care. The reason why did we choose holistic route is simply because the traditional medicine is "closed" for us!
Here is the link below, do your own search and I am pretty sure you will be able to find same clinic in your area.


http://fourfoldhealing.com/
Please keep in touch,
Rita

hi, I am so sorry to hear about your boyfriend, but my mom is going throuhg the same thing right now and we were looking into holistic medicine and I was just wondering if it worked?

6 years so far

Susan627 said:

Idedona
No, he went about his daily routine. We just found out that they want him to finish the last 2 rounds of chemo which he will start next week. They do not want to do surgery because they don't want to open a can of worms. They will monitor him & send him for tests every 3 months or so. Now it's the fear of the unknown. Will he have a reoccurence. Still very scary.

Hi, I know its been a while since you posted but was just wondering how your dad is going with his cancer? 

PVAL said:

Stage IV Stomach Cancer
Hi, my husband was diagnosed with stomach cancer stage IV on march of this year, of course surgery was not an option and he was only offered chemo but he doesn't believe in chemo because is very toxic for your body, he is doing an alternative treatment, is called the Gerson Therapy, based on organic food, 13 juices per day and supplements, he was given 3 to 6 months to live without chemo or 12 to 18 months with chemo. I wanted to know how you are doing with your immune system boosting, any improvements on your stomach?
And for anyone else that is reading this, have you heard of the Gerson Therapy? Or what about the Burzynski Clinic? I am trying to find out what is the best option for my husband and this is not an easy choice.
Thank you for any response.

Hello, I'm very curious to know if your husband continued with the Gerson Therapy. I am starting it myself and want to know what his results have been. Please update me.

FortunateOne said:

I am a Stage 4 (metastasised) Gastric Cancer Survivor

I am a Stage 4 (metastasised) Gastric Cancer Survivor - I'm still here! Female in my late 40s, hoping to see my late 50s. It is my hope to help others with this Deadly Disease by providing information about my experience living with this condition. Hoping for an 'official' remission.

Best wishes

Hi there

My dear friend has just been diagnosed and I'm wondering if you could share the diet you eat or anything else you've taken that has helped you. 

I do hope you are very well.

Kind regards

Lisa