Please tell me there is hope.my dad is diagnosed with stage IV

hi kristenn-

         im sorry to hear about your dad.my dad was generally in good health too.today he had the port installed and there were a few things delivered to the house to get ready for the feeding tube.what my dad has in inoperable but i just thought is was because of its size.he is going to be treated with kemo,no radiation.they did not give him a time frame and i (we) didnt ask.thursday we have an appointment with the oncologist to review his PET scan and he could quite possibly have his 1st kemo treatment that same day.1 day at a time.\thankyou for having my dad in your prayers :)

cnc guy

On 1/29/2008 Kristennyc wrote:

My father was diagnosed in March 2007 with the same exact cancer as your father. Started at the esophagus, and infected the upper portion of the stomach. He was also Stage 4, and was inoperable due to lymph node involvement, and malignancies in the perionatal cavity. My father was 63 years old, in great health, and took good care of himself. He also presented the same symptoms. Eating and feeling like the food was getting stuck in his chest. Even liquid was a chore for him, he would vomit everything and anything right back up. He was given a feeding tube for nutrition also. Is your father a candidate for surgery? As I said, my father was not because the cancer was just too far gone. He was resistant to chemotherapy and passed away a short 7 months after diagnosis. I hope and pray that the chemo will work for your father. I am not trying to be a downer by any means, and I am sorry if my story frightens you in any way, but I indentify with exactly what you are going through and wanted to let you know about my Dad. Have the doctors given a time frame? Did they mention that he may have a chance if being cured?

 My thoughts and prayers are with you.

Hello,  I was a regular on this message board in the latter part of 2006.  Sadly our experience was similar to Kristennyc...My husband ( a phys ed teacher, non smoker, healthy eater) was diagnosed May 31 with stage IV gastric cancer.  (the usual story...misdiagnosed for over two years with GERD)  He seemed to do well on chemo, which started for him on July 28.  We were hoping for a gastrectomy when we were told on October 31 that the cancer had spread to his lungs and his bones.  Two short weeks later he passed away, at home, as he wished.

It has been a long hard journey, and I wish you and your father success.  It is a tough monster to beat...

Darlene

Honestly everyone's situation is different.  My 65 yr old father was experiencing pains for about 3 months, finally went in and was diagnosed with stomach cancer this past July 2007.  The tumor was huge and had went through his stomach causing a bleeding ulcer.  The CAT scan showed that it was localized to his stomach so they opened him up and operated.  They removed pretty much all of the tumor with about 70% of his stomach.  They also removed about 17 lympnodes, most of which were cancerous.

Upon recovery from surgery he started chemo in Sept 2007.   He finished up a very aggressive 6 rounds of 5FU, Cisplatinum, and Taxotere.  Jan 2008 CAT scan came up clean.  PET scan also clean.  So far he has put on 20lbs and returned back to work.  

I pray that he will continue to beat it.  So far the Oncoligist said everything is going amzingly well and he is done with chemo for now.  He'll give him another scan in March just to monitor this.  I know that will come up clean too.  Never give up hope, and keep thinking positively.

hi steeda-

 thanks for the good read.i hope my dad is as lucky as yours.it's been 1 heck of a week.i was with him yesterday with the oncologist and we discussed his pet scan which along with the tumor showed spots on his lungs,liver and there were also spots on his upper backbone.they suggested he get a bonescan done.he has been fed via a feeding tube for 2 nights in a row now and so far so good.while i was with him yesterday we were ready to start his 1st kemo treatment but before that it was discovered from a blood test that his platlet count was dwon therefore he needed a blood transfusion.he was at the cancer center from 8am to 5pm.today he went back where he indeed had his 1st kemo treatment yand went ok.just had issues getting a few prescriptions.

thankyou,

cncguy

well,my dad had his 1st treatment of chemo which he went home with a 48 hour program.i was with him yesterday when the 48 hours were up.the feeding tube was going well too.that brings us to today,monday,my dad has not been drinking anything,his girlfriend offered to hook up the feeding tube and he said no,not until 6pm which is the time he has started the previous nights feedings (6pm to 6am)question.even if my dad elects not to drink anything during the day,will his nighttime feeding via the tube be enough?i think i read the can where it said 1 can = 300 calories.im afraid he will get dehydrated again.he was up today at 8am and back in bed at noon.my dad knows we have to fight this thing and the last thing i want is for my dad to give up.i know he is very tired from the chemo,and he has appointments tomorrow and his girlfriend is afraid he wont be strong enough to even get in the car.anyone care to chime in?

any comments much appreciated.

thanks everyone!

cncguy

On 2/4/2008 cncguy wrote:

i just found out my dad's doctor said he would like him to have 3 of the cans in 1 day and so far he has only been able to take 2.i feel a little better about the 2 cans versus 1.my dad has lost a lot of weight,so im sure starting off with just 2 is ok.

  When you begin feeding with a j-tube, doctors always recommend "building up" the number of cans you feed the patient. "Dumping syndrome" can occur if you feed too much too soon! Cramping and diarrhea result. When my father first started using his j-tube, we started off with 2 cans and then gradually increased the dosage as well as the rate. At the most, he was being given 5 cans in 24 hours.

*also, he was being fed Ensure plus, which is 350 calories

  Just be sure to rinse the tube!!!! If you don't, it will become clogged! I was told several different methods.....rinse every 3 - 4 hours with 60 mL of room temperature water or rinse every 6-8 hours with 150mL of room temperature water. The doctor/nurse should have told you about correct maintenance! If you google j-tube, you'll find a lot of info! Or, ask to be instructed on how to rinse the tube properly.

Good luck.

update 2/7/08

what a day today.......... my dad is up to 5 cans a day for his feeding tube,that part we are greatful for,he gained 2 pounds in 1 week.got a call last night that he needs a blood transfusion today so i pick him up and we are on our way.spoke with the oncologist and after discussing a few things she said that my dad's condition is considered dangerous and he should be brought to the hospital (from the cancer center) via ambulance.we were told that they would be a better place for him to get the care he needs and they would be able to do more testing and find out what is going on with his blood.we get to the hospital,place is a zoo,very busy,people everywhere (this is the ER),he has a chest xray done and a rectal exam was done and my dad is bleeding from where they think is his stomach.doc says he has a few calls to make (this is 11am) 2pm rolls around and my dad hasnt even got a room of his own yet.4pm rolls around and im told he might get a room late tinight or early tomorrow morning.UNBELIEVEABLE!.at this point we still have not met with any doctors to discuss anything.he has been getting blood transfusions while waiting.im praying that the bleeding is related to the feeding tube.if you read my previous posts you will see my dad has only had 1 kemo treatment which was the 5FU.should know more tomorrow.i hope

cncguy

Hello.  I too have had the role of caring for a parent battling this awful disease.  A lot of what you write is similar to certain things we encountered.  My mother was on the j- tube as well and there always seem to be something happening each day that would leave you guessing.  I never imagined how busy someone so ill could be?  It doesn't seem right.

I just wanted to let you know I am rooting for your Dad and your family.

My prayers are with you. 

hi Keep Smiling-

thanks for your kind words.my dad has only had 1 round of kemo (the 48 hour pack)then he returned home after 4+ days in the hospital.he was doing fine while at home,until he went back last week for round 2 of kemo and his white blood count was off.1 week his red count is off,the next his white is off.this has been 1 heck of an experience.so since his blood was off,he couldnt have kemo.instead he had a shot(s) both thursday and friday of last week.tomorrow he goes in again to try for round 2 of kemo.we are crossing our fingers that its a go!.as of late my dad has been depressed,he really doesnt want to talk on the phone.as far as the feeding tube goes i believe he is still doing 5 cans a day.

thanks for your prayers

cncguy