Living Every Day Can Happen

I am posting here only as an inspiration to others newly diagnosed with gastric cancer. My partner of 24 years was diagnosed with stage IV, stomach cancer on Feb 01, 2007. He had lost 50 pounds with no other side effects and never felt better. It took three doctors to finally get one that suggested an endoscopy. After this diagnosis, we were both shell shocked, and all the info I could find on the internet was not encouraging. After about a week of stewing in self pity, we decided to go ahead on a scheduled trip to Hawaii, and schedule a total gastrectomy for March 19th. During that procedure, the laproscopy showed it had already penetrated all five layers and was in the abdomen. They installed a G-tube for future use, left the stomach intact and we were home 4 days later. We hooked up with Dr Michelle Basche here in Denver at the Rocky Mountain Cancer center, who truly has been a blessing. Our treatment regimen has been IV Oxaliplatin and Epirubicin combined with oral Xeloda. We were given a best estimate of 8 to 10 months with chemotherapy treatments. Well, we had always heard terrible things about chemo, but I must tell you after nine months of this regimen, he has had minimal side effects (neuropathy in the hands mainly), has put back on 28 pounds (we go thru a lot of cream/butter, etc). Chemo has been an absolute blessing for us. It has thus far ensured high quality of life (biggest issue for us), we have been able to travel almost every three weeks in between infusions, and he has drawn closer to God. Our relationships with friends and family have strengenthed and we LIVE each and every day. While we are under no misconceptions that this is a terminal disease, we feel we have been very blessed. We had a United Airline stewardess (sorry, flight attendant) recommend a book titled "Love, Medicine and Miracles" by Dr. Bernie Segal. It was a great read both for the caregiver and the patient. Attitude is such an important thing and you can use it to help deal with this terrible disease. Our hearts and prayers go out to all of you dealing with this situation in your lives. Just have faith and love can get you through. Peace and Blessings to you all, Scott

On 12/8/2007 Eliot1 wrote:

I am posting here only as an inspiration to others newly diagnosed with gastric cancer. My partner of 24 years was diagnosed with stage IV, stomach cancer on Feb 01, 2007. He had lost 50 pounds with no other side effects and never felt better. It took three doctors to finally get one that suggested an endoscopy. After this diagnosis, we were both shell shocked, and all the info I could find on the internet was not encouraging. After about a week of stewing in self pity, we decided to go ahead on a scheduled trip to Hawaii, and schedule a total gastrectomy for March 19th. During that procedure, the laproscopy showed it had already penetrated all five layers and was in the abdomen. They installed a G-tube for future use, left the stomach intact and we were home 4 days later. We hooked up with Dr Michelle Basche here in Denver at the Rocky Mountain Cancer center, who truly has been a blessing. Our treatment regimen has been IV Oxaliplatin and Epirubicin combined with oral Xeloda. We were given a best estimate of 8 to 10 months with chemotherapy treatments. Well, we had always heard terrible things about chemo, but I must tell you after nine months of this regimen, he has had minimal side effects (neuropathy in the hands mainly), has put back on 28 pounds (we go thru a lot of cream/butter, etc). Chemo has been an absolute blessing for us. It has thus far ensured high quality of life (biggest issue for us), we have been able to travel almost every three weeks in between infusions, and he has drawn closer to God. Our relationships with friends and family have strengenthed and we LIVE each and every day. While we are under no misconceptions that this is a terminal disease, we feel we have been very blessed. We had a United Airline stewardess (sorry, flight attendant) recommend a book titled "Love, Medicine and Miracles" by Dr. Bernie Segal. It was a great read both for the caregiver and the patient. Attitude is such an important thing and you can use it to help deal with this terrible disease. Our hearts and prayers go out to all of you dealing with this situation in your lives. Just have faith and love can get you through. Peace and Blessings to you all, Scott

Hi Scott,

Thank you for your inspiring posting - it gives me  hope that my father may still have some good times ahead while coping with this illness.  He has linitis plastica and has lost 35 pounds in recent months.  Last week he had a J-tube inserted and is responding well to his feedings.  This week he begins ECF chemo and I pray that we can buy some time for him with the chemo treatments. Prayers to you and your partner, and thanks again for your positive and uplifting message.

On 12/8/2007 Eliot1 wrote:

I am posting here only as an inspiration to others newly diagnosed with gastric cancer. My partner of 24 years was diagnosed with stage IV, stomach cancer on Feb 01, 2007. He had lost 50 pounds with no other side effects and never felt better. It took three doctors to finally get one that suggested an endoscopy. After this diagnosis, we were both shell shocked, and all the info I could find on the internet was not encouraging. After about a week of stewing in self pity, we decided to go ahead on a scheduled trip to Hawaii, and schedule a total gastrectomy for March 19th. During that procedure, the laproscopy showed it had already penetrated all five layers and was in the abdomen. They installed a G-tube for future use, left the stomach intact and we were home 4 days later. We hooked up with Dr Michelle Basche here in Denver at the Rocky Mountain Cancer center, who truly has been a blessing. Our treatment regimen has been IV Oxaliplatin and Epirubicin combined with oral Xeloda. We were given a best estimate of 8 to 10 months with chemotherapy treatments. Well, we had always heard terrible things about chemo, but I must tell you after nine months of this regimen, he has had minimal side effects (neuropathy in the hands mainly), has put back on 28 pounds (we go thru a lot of cream/butter, etc). Chemo has been an absolute blessing for us. It has thus far ensured high quality of life (biggest issue for us), we have been able to travel almost every three weeks in between infusions, and he has drawn closer to God. Our relationships with friends and family have strengenthed and we LIVE each and every day. While we are under no misconceptions that this is a terminal disease, we feel we have been very blessed. We had a United Airline stewardess (sorry, flight attendant) recommend a book titled "Love, Medicine and Miracles" by Dr. Bernie Segal. It was a great read both for the caregiver and the patient. Attitude is such an important thing and you can use it to help deal with this terrible disease. Our hearts and prayers go out to all of you dealing with this situation in your lives. Just have faith and love can get you through. Peace and Blessings to you all, Scott

scott,

thank you so much for your story. it gives so many hope. my dear father is fighting stomach cancer too. the chemo has been really rough on him. we have taken a 5 week break and start back tomorrow with a reduction in dosage. what dose of xeloda was your partner on? well...you will both be in my thoughts. i hope you continue to see good things with the chemo. take care, kris

Dearest Kris,

My thoughts are with you both too. He started out taking two 500 mg. pills in the morning and two more at night every day during the 21 day cycles of IV infusions. I think we did that for about 7 months, then the Xeloda was causing some problems with redness/soreness on the hands (never did effect the feet), so we took a break. For the last 2 months or so, we are doing the same dosages, but only for 10 days after an infusion. The other 11 days we use to recover.  It does seem to be helping. You know, we are all just trying to ride that fine line between what works and what makes it worse. Hang in there. Godspeed,  Scott.