Stomach Cancer Survivors

Looking for any stage 4, stomach cancer survivors.  Any helpful information you'd be willing to share would be appreciated. 

 Thank you and God bless!

I am only a short term survivor so far.  When first diagnosed, I was given a 10% chance of survival.  After chemo, surgery, radiation and more chemo I am now told I have a 30% chance for survival.  My plan is to be one of those three out of ten that makes it.

 

Best wishes,

 

Tom

 

On 11/19/2007 LabGuy wrote:

I am only a short term survivor so far.  When first diagnosed, I was given a 10% chance of survival.  After chemo, surgery, radiation and more chemo I am now told I have a 30% chance for survival.  My plan is to be one of those three out of ten that makes it.

 

Best wishes,

tom

tom...way to go!!! you have a strong will and reading this makes me have some hope about my dad. i have all but given up the thought that he will beat this, or at least get another year. so thank you!!

when were you diagnosed and what with? any spreading? where are you getting treatments from? i wish you all the best and will keep you in my thoughts. kris

I was diognosed with stage 4 stomach cancer June 8,2007. Was also told it was in-op. After 5 rounds of chemo i will having surgery in Dec. The last pet-ct showed the cancer to be in remission. I have been drinking aloe vera juice and changed my diet to about 95% oganic. it's hard to be 100%. I dramaticaly increased my intake of fruits and veggis. When it became painful to eat I used the morphine to continue eating. Nurishment is a key. Even when it tast bad and hurts. I was seen at Stanford they have a clinical trail going on. you may want to inquire. Good luck

I'll add to this.  My father was diagnosed July 2007, was operated on July 10 to remove 70% of his stomach and a whole bunch of lymphs that were cancerous.  He's been doing some intense chemo and so far his last cat scan came up clean.  He has 2 more rounds of chemo to go, then we go in for another scan.   If that's clean then he gets to stop chemo and we just monitor him with periodic scans.

Stay positive and have some sort of faith.  People CAN beat this.

I love to add some encouragement to this site. I am so lucky to be able to share this with all of you. I was diagnosed with colon cancer in 2003, I did the chemo regimen and did fairly well. eight months later I was diagnosed with colon cancer again with mets to the stomach Stage 4. last time Stage 2. I had surgery once again, removed half my stomach, total of 37 inches of colon,  survived another,  yet long regimen of the worse chemo ever and I am here today to tell you all I am 1 1/2 years cancer free. I have a scan every 3 months. As  time goes on we will shoot for 4 months. My life will never be the same nor my body. lol!!  I have adjusted to all the conveniences this disease can bring but I m here and doing Quite well. I have a wondeful family and great friends. I have so much to be Thankful for. Hope  everyone has a Wonderful Thanksgiving. I know I will!!!

That's outstanding Skittlesbug!  Like I said, people can beat this!

Kris,

Thanks for the encouragement. 

I was diagnosed on Jan 2, 2007 with stage IV gastric/esophageal adenocarcinoma at Stanford (I work there). 

I had three months of chemo, IV Carboplatin and oral Xeloda.  The first three week cycle was no problem.  In the middle of the second cycle I had severe hand/foot syndrome.  Xeloda also whacked my GI tract.  I had severe dehydration and my electrolytes dropped to panic levels.  I had to go into the hosptial for a few days and had outpatient IV's for a another week until my intestinal mucosa grew back.  My Xeloda dose was reduced by 25% for the third cycle (to 3000 mg/day).  The third cycle was not too bad.  The chemo didn't reduce the size of the mass but it did a good job on my lymph nodes and made me a candidate for surgery.  The lesson I learned was not to wait until you get really sick to get help.  IV rehydration and electrolyte replacement is much easier to deal with than severe dehydration.

In May I had an Iver-Lewis gastrectomy/esophagectomy.  They removed most of my stomach, esophagus and 22 lymph nodes.  Four lymph nodes were positive but the surgical margins were clear.  No other metastaces.  I was discharged after nine days.  It took a couple months to recover from surgery.  The abdominal surgery wasn't to bad.  It was the thoracotomy that was rough.  My ribs hurt for six weeks. 

Next I had five weeks of radiation with oral chemo. 

Today I finished another two months of Carboplatin and Xeloda. 

I had a PET/CT a couple weeks ago and they saw no signs of new disease.  My next appointment is Jan 7, 2008.  I am in the "watch and see" mode now. 

I can eat anything I want now, but in small quantities.  I occasionally have some acid reflux at night, even with the proton inhibitor I'm taking.  I have irregular bowel movements but I am waiting to see how my GI works after chemo.  The Xeloda is tough on the GI tract.  I lost 40 lbs but I had a lot of extra weight to begin with.  I walk regularly but sleep a lot.  My biggest problem has been fatigue.

It has been a tough road but, overall, not to bad.  I look healthier now than before I was diagnosed. 

 Tom

 

On 11/26/2007 LabGuy wrote:

Kris,

Thanks for the encouragement. 

I was diagnosed on Jan 2, 2007 with stage IV gastric/esophageal adenocarcinoma at Stanford (I work there). 

I had three months of chemo, IV Carboplatin and oral Xeloda.  The first three week cycle was no problem.  In the middle of the second cycle I had severe hand/foot syndrome.  Xeloda also whacked my GI tract.  I had severe dehydration and my electrolytes dropped to panic levels.  I had to go into the hosptial for a few days and had outpatient IV's for a another week until my intestinal mucosa grew back.  My Xeloda dose was reduced by 25% for the third cycle (to 3000 mg/day).  The third cycle was not too bad.  The chemo didn't reduce the size of the mass but it did a good job on my lymph nodes and made me a candidate for surgery.  The lesson I learned was not to wait until you get really sick to get help.  IV rehydration and electrolyte replacement is much easier to deal with than severe dehydration.

In May I had an Iver-Lewis gastrectomy/esophagectomy.  They removed most of my stomach, esophagus and 22 lymph nodes.  Four lymph nodes were positive but the surgical margins were clear.  No other metastaces.  I was discharged after nine days.  It took a couple months to recover from surgery.  The abdominal surgery wasn't to bad.  It was the thoracotomy that was rough.  My ribs hurt for six weeks. 

Next I had five weeks of radiation with oral chemo. 

Today I finished another two months of Carboplatin and Xeloda. 

I had a PET/CT a couple weeks ago and they saw no signs of new disease.  My next appointment is Jan 7, 2008.  I am in the "watch and see" mode now. 

I can eat anything I want now, but in small quantities.  I occasionally have some acid reflux at night, even with the proton inhibitor I'm taking.  I have irregular bowel movements but I am waiting to see how my GI works after chemo.  The Xeloda is tough on the GI tract.  I lost 40 lbs but I had a lot of extra weight to begin with.  I walk regularly but sleep a lot.  My biggest problem has been fatigue.

It has been a tough road but, overall, not to bad.  I look healthier now than before I was diagnosed. 

 Tom

Nice job with your treatment choices.  Could I ask who and where your surgery was performed?  My wife is in remission from Stage 4 diagnosed in March of this year.  She has been on chemo since then and is in remission.  At some point we may be looking at a similar procedure and I am interested to know how you are doing post surgery?  Keep the faith!

 Steve

 

Tom:

Just for future reference, my wifes stage 4 was diagnosed while the two tumors (stomach and liver) were still only about 2cm in diameter.  Her initial chemo consisted of Epirubicin, Cisplatin, and 5-FU (delivered via pump continously).  This is the treatment that put her into remission with a complete response.  Currently she is taking the Xeloda (started at 5000mg/day but had to reduce to 4000 (round two) and now 3000 round three AND oxaliplatin as a maintenance dose for 6 months.  Then some testing and retesting - THEN if still clear may have to choose if she wants surgery???