Stage 3A Possible for a cure?

montclair
montclair Member Posts: 11
edited March 2014 in Stomach Cancer #1
Stage 3A Possible for a cure?


Is it possible for Stage 3A stomach cancer to be cured?

(Total gastrectomy performed 5 weeks ago. Starting Chemo/Radiation with EC-Xeloda this Tuesday.)

Comments

  • Tina Blondek
    Tina Blondek Member Posts: 1,500 Member
    #2
    Hi Montclair and welcome. It
    Hi Montclair and welcome. It is always possible for a cure! Keep a positive adtittude. You have had the surgery, that is a great accomplishment. Now continue with the chemo and radiation to kill this cancer. Set your mind to fighting this. One step at a time. I was a caregiver for my dad who passed away in March from ec with mets to the liver. He did not give up,he put up one heck of a fight, but the cancer won in the end. You have a fighting chance, put those boxing gloves on and make it a knock out!
    Tina
  • mmbarnett
    mmbarnett Member Posts: 2
    #3
    Tina Blondek said:

    Hi Montclair and welcome. It
    Hi Montclair and welcome. It is always possible for a cure! Keep a positive adtittude. You have had the surgery, that is a great accomplishment. Now continue with the chemo and radiation to kill this cancer. Set your mind to fighting this. One step at a time. I was a caregiver for my dad who passed away in March from ec with mets to the liver. He did not give up,he put up one heck of a fight, but the cancer won in the end. You have a fighting chance, put those boxing gloves on and make it a knock out!
    Tina

    Hang in there - how is she doing
    Hi, I am a PA in Colorado Springs with a dear friend, 45 years old, who was diagnosed with stomach cancer 3 months ago. Underwent total gastrectomy and had multiple post op complications including abcess and required wound vac. She had her last drain pulled last week, yay, but is now ready to start chemotherapy. She has a fighting spirit, a great surgeon and oncologist, supportive family and friends. I was wondering how your mom is doing and if you have any suggestions for someone who is a few months behind you with the diagnosis and treatment. I think your initial post was so much like what my friend is facing. Looking forward to updates. Michelle
  • livestrong_fighter
    livestrong_fighter Member Posts: 39
    #4
    the answer is "YES"
    stage IIIa has a good chance of "CURE"!
  • liveinhope
    liveinhope Member Posts: 83
    #5
    I had cancer 17years ago.For
    I had cancer 17years ago.For me,even today,every day is a blessing.I am so happy to be alive.For my son its been 11months and I am grateful.No one,my dear girl,ever came with a warranty.As always in life its today that is important.Keep up!
  • Tomissimo
    Tomissimo Member Posts: 37
    #6
    Survival
    "Cure" is a status that isn't supplied until 5 years removed from cancer with no recurrences of it. There are some people that have been around longer then that and usually are around to reply to these boards. I've been bad about it myself. However, I am 3 years removed from my initial diagnosis, and total gastrectomy in Sept 09 and final chemo in Nov of 09.

    I was listed as a 3a stage cancer, though looking at this years definitions from the statistics page I would be in the 3b category. So as a comparison, another gentleman and myself went through the same process at the same time, within a week of each other. Sadly he passed on after about 6 months from the treatments in Nov. He had more lymph nodes infected then I did, 12 vs 4, but there was a big age difference as well. I was 31 during my treatment period and he was 74.

    The sad part is as each type of cancer is different so is each case within the same body area. There are several types of stomach cancer as well. I do however wish the best and to keep optimistic as it is a long road ahead with recovering and learning to eat again.
  • montclair
    montclair Member Posts: 11
    #7
    Tomissimo said:

    Survival
    "Cure" is a status that isn't supplied until 5 years removed from cancer with no recurrences of it. There are some people that have been around longer then that and usually are around to reply to these boards. I've been bad about it myself. However, I am 3 years removed from my initial diagnosis, and total gastrectomy in Sept 09 and final chemo in Nov of 09.

    I was listed as a 3a stage cancer, though looking at this years definitions from the statistics page I would be in the 3b category. So as a comparison, another gentleman and myself went through the same process at the same time, within a week of each other. Sadly he passed on after about 6 months from the treatments in Nov. He had more lymph nodes infected then I did, 12 vs 4, but there was a big age difference as well. I was 31 during my treatment period and he was 74.

    The sad part is as each type of cancer is different so is each case within the same body area. There are several types of stomach cancer as well. I do however wish the best and to keep optimistic as it is a long road ahead with recovering and learning to eat again.

    Mother with stage 3A stomach cancer restarted chemo yesterday!
    My mom restarted chemo today with Epirubicin/Oxaliplatin given to her today through her port catheter, and was also hooked up today with a chemo pump that gives her 5-FU for 24 hours a day which she will have hooked up to her for the next 3 weeks. My moms first chemo session with EC+Xeloda(pill form of 5-FU) did not go well since my mom had a bad reaction with the xeloda which caused her to develop severe nausea due to intestinal inflammation which out her in the hospital for 4 days. My mom stopped taking the Xeloda pills 2 and 1/2 weeks ago and has now been put on the 5-FU pump. I hope this 2 and 1/2 week break did not lessen her chances of being cured for her stage 3 stomach cancer. My mom is now 10 weeks post total gastrectomy with 15 out of 22 lymph nodes being positive with mixed signet ring/adenocarcinoma. As her caregiver I had alot of hope in her surgery and post adjuvant chemotherapy and I hope that with the start of her new chemo regimen that my dear mom still has a chance of being cured. Wish the best to all dealing with this dreaded disease and I hope to update you all with positive developments for my mom in the future!!!
  • mmbarnett
    mmbarnett Member Posts: 2
    #8
    mmbarnett said:

    Hang in there - how is she doing
    Hi, I am a PA in Colorado Springs with a dear friend, 45 years old, who was diagnosed with stomach cancer 3 months ago. Underwent total gastrectomy and had multiple post op complications including abcess and required wound vac. She had her last drain pulled last week, yay, but is now ready to start chemotherapy. She has a fighting spirit, a great surgeon and oncologist, supportive family and friends. I was wondering how your mom is doing and if you have any suggestions for someone who is a few months behind you with the diagnosis and treatment. I think your initial post was so much like what my friend is facing. Looking forward to updates. Michelle

    Hi, my friend is now 10 weeks out from total gastrectomy for stage 3 stomach cancer and is getting tube feedings in the evenings. She continues to have problems with increased mucus and gagging, after eating and after her feedings start. She has worked with a dietitian and has restricted carbohydrates. She tried Reglan but did not tolerate this. She was on erythromycin for a period of time with some benefit. Anyone else out there with similiar symptoms? She is familiar with dumping syndrome and avoids sugars and carbohydrates as much as possible. Any help would be great. Thanks, MB
  • montclair
    montclair Member Posts: 11
    #9
    montclair said:

    Mother with stage 3A stomach cancer restarted chemo yesterday!
    My mom restarted chemo today with Epirubicin/Oxaliplatin given to her today through her port catheter, and was also hooked up today with a chemo pump that gives her 5-FU for 24 hours a day which she will have hooked up to her for the next 3 weeks. My moms first chemo session with EC+Xeloda(pill form of 5-FU) did not go well since my mom had a bad reaction with the xeloda which caused her to develop severe nausea due to intestinal inflammation which out her in the hospital for 4 days. My mom stopped taking the Xeloda pills 2 and 1/2 weeks ago and has now been put on the 5-FU pump. I hope this 2 and 1/2 week break did not lessen her chances of being cured for her stage 3 stomach cancer. My mom is now 10 weeks post total gastrectomy with 15 out of 22 lymph nodes being positive with mixed signet ring/adenocarcinoma. As her caregiver I had alot of hope in her surgery and post adjuvant chemotherapy and I hope that with the start of her new chemo regimen that my dear mom still has a chance of being cured. Wish the best to all dealing with this dreaded disease and I hope to update you all with positive developments for my mom in the future!!!

    Mom stops chemo for second time.
    Hello Everyone! My mom had her appointment today with her oncologist to have her 5-FU pump refilled after being 1 week on the pump. She restarted Chemo a week ago and started again having severe muscle leg pain/cramps which was one of the reasons we had to stop her first round of Chemo with Epirubicin/Cisplatin/Xeloda. She had 2 weeks off due to the complications she had with the 1st round of chemo, and was placed on a new regimen of Epirubicin/Oxaliplatin/5-FU pump due to the severe muscle leg pain she experienced during her first round of chemo and started having the same severe muscle leg pain during this 2nd round of chemo. Her oncologist decided to stop treatment again today for another 2 weeks. The oncologist thinks the severe muscle leg pain is from the 5-FU since he cannot find any other cause, and told us he will have to find another treatment regimen to give her, when I asked him what other options he could possibly come up with besides 5-FU he told me he currently has no idea. I am so angry and upset right now that I feel like I'm going to explode and I am very dissappointed with my mom I feel like she is not being strong enough to fight her stage 3 stomach cancer. I understand it is not easy to go through chemo but I have read so many cases on this forum of others have gotten through the treatment and I just cannot understand why my mom is having such a hard time. It has now been 11 weeks post total gastrectomy and I know that the longer she delays completing her chemo/radiation the higher the chance of her cancer coming back. Does anyone else on this forum have any idea what other chemo combo the oncologist might decide on using since it seems to me that 5-FU is the frontline primary treatment used for stomach cancer what else could the oncologist possibly use in place of the 24/7 fluorouracil pump? Hope someone could help answer this question for me because I truly have lost hope for my mom and right now I am just so angry/depressed why my mom has not been able to get through chemo just like everyone else who has been diagnosed with this disease. Thanks!
  • liveinhope
    liveinhope Member Posts: 83
    #10
    montclair said:

    Mom stops chemo for second time.
    Hello Everyone! My mom had her appointment today with her oncologist to have her 5-FU pump refilled after being 1 week on the pump. She restarted Chemo a week ago and started again having severe muscle leg pain/cramps which was one of the reasons we had to stop her first round of Chemo with Epirubicin/Cisplatin/Xeloda. She had 2 weeks off due to the complications she had with the 1st round of chemo, and was placed on a new regimen of Epirubicin/Oxaliplatin/5-FU pump due to the severe muscle leg pain she experienced during her first round of chemo and started having the same severe muscle leg pain during this 2nd round of chemo. Her oncologist decided to stop treatment again today for another 2 weeks. The oncologist thinks the severe muscle leg pain is from the 5-FU since he cannot find any other cause, and told us he will have to find another treatment regimen to give her, when I asked him what other options he could possibly come up with besides 5-FU he told me he currently has no idea. I am so angry and upset right now that I feel like I'm going to explode and I am very dissappointed with my mom I feel like she is not being strong enough to fight her stage 3 stomach cancer. I understand it is not easy to go through chemo but I have read so many cases on this forum of others have gotten through the treatment and I just cannot understand why my mom is having such a hard time. It has now been 11 weeks post total gastrectomy and I know that the longer she delays completing her chemo/radiation the higher the chance of her cancer coming back. Does anyone else on this forum have any idea what other chemo combo the oncologist might decide on using since it seems to me that 5-FU is the frontline primary treatment used for stomach cancer what else could the oncologist possibly use in place of the 24/7 fluorouracil pump? Hope someone could help answer this question for me because I truly have lost hope for my mom and right now I am just so angry/depressed why my mom has not been able to get through chemo just like everyone else who has been diagnosed with this disease. Thanks!

    Dear Montclair,a number of
    Dear Montclair,a number of patients are unable to go through chemo at one stretch.Its sad but its there.My son is not only half your mother's age but was phsically very strong when chemo was started.His 5FU had to be stopped(much later)due to clots in many veins.He was later on Taxotere instead of 5FU.You are young so I can understand your frustration.With age ,maybe,its easier to accept that a lot of things are not in one's control.Try to be at peace with yourself.
    Love and good wishes to you and your mother
    Nisha
  • liveinhope
    liveinhope Member Posts: 83
    #11
    montclair said:

    Mom stops chemo for second time.
    Hello Everyone! My mom had her appointment today with her oncologist to have her 5-FU pump refilled after being 1 week on the pump. She restarted Chemo a week ago and started again having severe muscle leg pain/cramps which was one of the reasons we had to stop her first round of Chemo with Epirubicin/Cisplatin/Xeloda. She had 2 weeks off due to the complications she had with the 1st round of chemo, and was placed on a new regimen of Epirubicin/Oxaliplatin/5-FU pump due to the severe muscle leg pain she experienced during her first round of chemo and started having the same severe muscle leg pain during this 2nd round of chemo. Her oncologist decided to stop treatment again today for another 2 weeks. The oncologist thinks the severe muscle leg pain is from the 5-FU since he cannot find any other cause, and told us he will have to find another treatment regimen to give her, when I asked him what other options he could possibly come up with besides 5-FU he told me he currently has no idea. I am so angry and upset right now that I feel like I'm going to explode and I am very dissappointed with my mom I feel like she is not being strong enough to fight her stage 3 stomach cancer. I understand it is not easy to go through chemo but I have read so many cases on this forum of others have gotten through the treatment and I just cannot understand why my mom is having such a hard time. It has now been 11 weeks post total gastrectomy and I know that the longer she delays completing her chemo/radiation the higher the chance of her cancer coming back. Does anyone else on this forum have any idea what other chemo combo the oncologist might decide on using since it seems to me that 5-FU is the frontline primary treatment used for stomach cancer what else could the oncologist possibly use in place of the 24/7 fluorouracil pump? Hope someone could help answer this question for me because I truly have lost hope for my mom and right now I am just so angry/depressed why my mom has not been able to get through chemo just like everyone else who has been diagnosed with this disease. Thanks!

    Dear Montclair,a number of
    Dear Montclair,a number of patients are unable to go through chemo at one stretch.Its sad but its there.My son is not only half your mother's age but was phsically very strong when chemo was started.His 5FU had to be stopped(much later)due to clots in many veins.He was later on Taxotere instead of 5FU.You are young so I can understand your frustration.With age ,maybe,its easier to accept that a lot of things are not in one's control.Try to be at peace with yourself.
    Love and good wishes to you and your mother
    Nisha
  • montclair
    montclair Member Posts: 11
    #12
    liveinhope said:

    Dear Montclair,a number of
    Dear Montclair,a number of patients are unable to go through chemo at one stretch.Its sad but its there.My son is not only half your mother's age but was phsically very strong when chemo was started.His 5FU had to be stopped(much later)due to clots in many veins.He was later on Taxotere instead of 5FU.You are young so I can understand your frustration.With age ,maybe,its easier to accept that a lot of things are not in one's control.Try to be at peace with yourself.
    Love and good wishes to you and your mother
    Nisha

    Dear Nisha
    Thank You Nisha for your kind words! I am still very upset about my mom stopping chemo with 5-FU for a second time but I guess I cannot give up and hope for a miracle for my mom. I have read that there is a 15-30% chance of stage 3 stomach cancer being cured by surgery alone, although I hope my mothers oncologist will be able to find another treatment regimen beside 5-FU that she can tolerate. Is taxotere just as effective as 5-FU and if so can it be given with a 24/7 chemo pump or can it only be given every few weeks. How often did your son recieve his treatments with Taxotere. Ok Nisha thanks for you help and I hope your son is doing well :)

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