What Now? Radiation? Please Help!!

TEH1
TEH1 Member Posts: 4
edited March 2014 in Stomach Cancer #1
Three weeks ago I had a partial gastrectomy. I had stage II T3 gastric cancer. I had 3 rounds of Epirubicin, Cisplatin and Fluorouacil pre surgery and the plan was 3 rounds after surgery. Well I had the surgery but the chemo had no effect on the tumor. Technically I have no cancer, the tumor was removed and 22 lymph nodes removed had no cancer. Now I was given three options. Continue the chemo as planned, 3 rounds after surgery. Have chemoradiation for 5 weeks. Do both chemotherapy and radiation or do no further treatment and just monitor my health. Other than a little stomach cancer I am a very healthy 46 year old person. Very physically active and a super healthy eater even after having 75% of my stomach removed. Please share any experiences or advice. My oncologist said if he had a time machine he would have done the radiation pre surgery. Now what? I am really concerned about the effects radiation could have on my new little stomach. Thanks for any help, Teresa

Comments

  • Tonia11
    Tonia11 Member Posts: 57
    #2
    If it were me I would do the 3 additional rounds of chemo. Did you have a hard time with the first 3 rounds? If not, I would do it as a pre-caution. Everything I read says that stomach cancer has a very high recurrence rate so the xtra rounds might help. However with that being said, I do understand that some people do not want anymore chemo than necessary. So I understand both sides.
  • TEH1
    TEH1 Member Posts: 4
    #3
    Tonia11 said:

    If it were me I would do the 3 additional rounds of chemo. Did you have a hard time with the first 3 rounds? If not, I would do it as a pre-caution. Everything I read says that stomach cancer has a very high recurrence rate so the xtra rounds might help. However with that being said, I do understand that some people do not want anymore chemo than necessary. So I understand both sides.

    chemo reply

    Tonia11, Thanks for your thoughts. Actually that was the origianl plan, chemo, surgery, chemo. During surgery they could not see any effect to the tumor from the chemo, but I had no cancer in the lymph nodes so there was no definite conclusion as to wheter the chemo worked or not. I did very well during chemo. Lost my hair but no biggie. I did and still am doing a lot of juicing and eating a lot of raw fruits and veggies, also taking supplements suggseted by a nutritionist. Fruits and vegetables are rich in glutathione which helps to detox your liver. Your liver can use all the help it can get during chemo. I am not a doctor but from personal experience? I know this helped me get through my chemo.
    Be well, Teresa

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