Stage 4 Stomach Cancer

My mom was diagnosed with Stage 4 Stomach Cancer...as far as they know the cancer has not spread to other organs but the ascites (fluid) has cancer cells which makes removal of her stomach impossible at this time, if ever.  We got this diagnosis 9/27/07 and 10/9/07 was her first chemo day...she's on 24hr infusion pump with 5FU for 9wks non stop plus 3 chemo sessions of Cisplatin and Epuribicin....we go in for the second session next Tuesday...she's began to lose her hair and so far her side effects have been minimal although I'm sure that will change.  Anyone out there have the same situation?  I know Linitis Plastica has been used to describe her cancer.  Any info/hope/suggestions will be appreciated.  My mom is a healthy 55 year old...very active and no symptoms until some indigestion came that didn't go away.

I am so sorry to hear that your mother has been stricken with this disease. My father was diagnosed with Stage 4 stomach cancer, and was inoperable as well, due to the cancer growing outside the stomach wall, and acites containing cancer cells. My father was on chemo for 6 months, and his tumor never shrank, it just kept growing. I am not writing this to scare you, but my father passed away last month after his battle. Stage IV is very hard to treat, as the cancer is just so aggresive, but there have been people who beat it and beat the odds. Is your mom able to eat? How is she feeling? What were her symptoms?

 

My prayers are with you.

Thanks for your honesty...I feel alone in all of this since all of our lives get turned upside down and you just don't know what to do.  Mom is doing well for being on week 3 of everyday, 24hr chemo....since 10/9 she's only had 2 really bad nausea days...she's been  in pretty good spirits, taking visitors, going to the store, keeping up some normal daily activities...she eats well, has normal bowel movements...her symptoms consisted of heavy burping after she ate some cheese...it just created lots of gas and burping...it wasn't going away so after 3 wks of that she went to the dr. who set her up for an endoscopy which showed an ulcer...they did a biopsy of the ulcer which showed the cancer...ct scan shows cancer only in the stomach...endoscopic ultrasound also shows cancer only in the stomach but revealed the ascites...the sample they took contained cancer cells....she was immediately started on the aggressive chemo combo...the surgeon still has a tiny bit of hope that this aggressive chemo will give her a chance to be a candidate for surgery to remove the stomach...so we are hoping this works...at least give us more time w/her...sorry to hear about your dad...how did he do w/the treatments?

I can chime in on this too.  My father was diagnosed July 6 with stomach cancer.  They operated on him shortly after removing 70% of his stomach and about 17 effected lympnodes.  Thankfully there was no spreading to pancreas or other organs.  Now he's on an aggresive chemo treatment to battle the remainder cancer cells.  He completed 3 rounds of 5FU, Cisplatinum, and Taxotere.  His first 2 rounds weren't too bad, but this 3rd one has been dreadful on him.  He's slowly losing weight and not eating so I'm going to ask the Dr if he can have a chemo break.  We go in for cat scan results this Wed to see if the chemo has been working well.  I pray for clean results.

Even though this is a hard disease to beat, do not give up faith.  Stay confident and positive.

 

On 10/29/2007 Steeda wrote:

I can chime in on this too.  My father was diagnosed July 6 with stomach cancer.  They operated on him shortly after removing 70% of his stomach and about 17 effected lympnodes.  Thankfully there was no spreading to pancreas or other organs.  Now he's on an aggresive chemo treatment to battle the remainder cancer cells.  He completed 3 rounds of 5FU, Cisplatinum, and Taxotere.  His first 2 rounds weren't too bad, but this 3rd one has been dreadful on him.  He's slowly losing weight and not eating so I'm going to ask the Dr if he can have a chemo break.  We go in for cat scan results this Wed to see if the chemo has been working well.  I pray for clean results.

Even though this is a hard disease to beat, do not give up faith.  Stay confident and positive.

Thanks...we are trying....tomorrow is our next "big" chemo day besides her 24hr daily chemo she's hooked up to...ever heard of such a thing?????

Her loss of hair is really becoming noticeable now but mom refuses to cut it shorter...any ideas to change her mind??? 

 

 

On 10/29/2007 Steeda wrote:

I can chime in on this too.  My father was diagnosed July 6 with stomach cancer.  They operated on him shortly after removing 70% of his stomach and about 17 effected lympnodes.  Thankfully there was no spreading to pancreas or other organs.  Now he's on an aggresive chemo treatment to battle the remainder cancer cells.  He completed 3 rounds of 5FU, Cisplatinum, and Taxotere.  His first 2 rounds weren't too bad, but this 3rd one has been dreadful on him.  He's slowly losing weight and not eating so I'm going to ask the Dr if he can have a chemo break.  We go in for cat scan results this Wed to see if the chemo has been working well.  I pray for clean results.

Even though this is a hard disease to beat, do not give up faith.  Stay confident and positive.

I'm glad your dad is on way to recovery...they didn't know of the lymph nodes until having surgery?  I'll keep him in my prayers as well.

My dad is hooked up to 5FU 24hrs.  They did the cat scan originally after an endoscopy and it showed that the tumor was localized so they decided to open him up.  While he was opened up they removed most of his stomach and everything else the surgeon could see with eyes.  He pretty much went to town and cleaned up as much tumor/cancer that he could see.

I guess that's a good thing though as it increases his chances for survival.  It seems like most surgeons close up the patients after they see the cancer spread the lympnodes.

 

On 10/26/2007 papeta wrote:

My mom was diagnosed with Stage 4 Stomach Cancer...as far as they know the cancer has not spread to other organs but the ascites (fluid) has cancer cells which makes removal of her stomach impossible at this time, if ever.  We got this diagnosis 9/27/07 and 10/9/07 was her first chemo day...she's on 24hr infusion pump with 5FU for 9wks non stop plus 3 chemo sessions of Cisplatin and Epuribicin....we go in for the second session next Tuesday...she's began to lose her hair and so far her side effects have been minimal although I'm sure that will change.  Anyone out there have the same situation?  I know Linitis Plastica has been used to describe her cancer.  Any info/hope/suggestions will be appreciated.  My mom is a healthy 55 year old...very active and no symptoms until some indigestion came that didn't go away.

Hello,

 I just wanted to write to let you know that there is hope.  My sister was diagnosed with stage iv last november.  She, too, was on 24 hr 5fu, epirubicin, and ciplatin (sp?).  She did okay at first but they made her very very sick.  She hung in there though.  They were going to remove her stomach but found it to be in some lymph nodes and the lining to her peritoneum.  She had her last pet scan done in August and it showed not cancer.  She got to take a break from that dreadful chemo and doesn't have to go back to the doctor til November 15th.  They have made it pretty clear that they do anticipate it to come back but she has gotten a three month gift, where she has felt pretty good and able to do some fun things.  I hope and pray that your mom will receive some kind of a break as well.  Best of luck to you and your family.

 Amy

Hang in there. My spouse was diagnosed with Stage IV in her stomach which had metastisized to her liver (1-2cm tumors). After 4 rounds of ECF (epirubicin, cisplatin, and 5-fu using 24/7 infusion) she is in remission with no site of any cancer. Her hair did fall out and she got a good quality wig which the insuranc company helped pay for. She continues to wear it even though her hair is now growing back. She has now been in remission for two months BUT started another round of chemotherapy to make sure it stays away; the new regimen is Oxaliplatin and Xeloda (pill form of the 5-FU) which she is tolerating well.
Just keep supporting mom, we hope for the best recovery but need to be ready for anything. Best advice I can give is to get as many opinions as possible and to do as much research as possible. We have modified her treatments due to input from other area cancer centers.
Are prayers are with you and your mom and just do your best.

that's really encouraging to hear...I'm really happy you guys have had good results...I pray for the same...right now she's starting to get sores on her lips and her hands her hair is pretty much gone and this wkd was the first with a wig...she's really down and I'm having a hard time cheering her up...I'll read her your experience...thanks so much for sharing.