What To Do Next

hi! my mother-in-law was diagonised with stage IV stomach cancer November 2007. She went through 2 rounds of chemo - xeloda 2-x-daily with infusions and a drip - Eloxatin and Ellence before starting each round. before starting the third round she got an infection that put her in the hospital for a week. She took antibiotics and then went into the hospital for 5 days again with another infection. Most likely it was the TPN. She tried to go off the TPN for three days but just cannot eat. She tring to use it everyother day since she is now terrified of it but it is her only source of nutrician. She went back to the doctor to begin chemo treatment again this past tuesday Jan 29 and I went with her try and talk to the oncologist about the situation. He was very defensive when I asked where the tumor was, how big it was, we learned through my questioning that it has spread to the lymph but they said an ultrasound in the hospital said it has not grown.  When I asked if she could get a more aggressive chemo therapy they siad that this was aggressive-though she has not had it in a month. I keep wondering why not on the EFC treatment-but maybe she is too weak? Over the last 3 weeks, started to experience pain. I am trying to get her to MD Anderson but feel that the oncologist is telling me not to bother. She feels one minute she can beat it and then is fatalistic the next. I don't want to ruin her quality of life but am in a panic to do something. thanks for any comments.

mary

Sometimes tough to respond as everyones disease is so different.  Get all the opinions you have the ability to get.  My 43 year old wife was diagnosed in March of 07 with two small tumors; one in her stomach at the junction with the eshopagus and another in her liver (both were 1-2 cm in size).  Post 4 rounds of ECF she was scanned and their was no visable tumor.  She participated in 2 more rounds of ECF (each was 3 weeks).  She then had a repeat endoscopy done and the biopsis came back cancer free.  This brings us to about October 07 when she was started on Xeloda and Oxaliplatin to change things up and to keep fighting any cancer cells that may be lingering elsewhere in her body.  We expect to possibly end her chemo treatments in March 08.  These regimens have been suggested by our oncolgist and confirmed by other Oncologists from Sloan Kittering and Dana Farber.  You have to get the alternate opinions as ours had originally suggested surgery but the oncologist from Sloan was so very against it we decided not to do it but keep fighting the disease chemically.  I would shy away from any oncolgist that seemingly is not answering my questions.  Push hard to get the opinions.  There are many different chemo regimens and you need to feel comfortable you have selected the most aggressive.  With dealing with this type of cancer, I am not certain why anyone would suggest anything but the most very aggressive treatment.

Keep the faith.  We are all pulling for you both!!!

 Steve

Hartford, CT

Thanks Steve. you message means a great deal to me after a frustrating week with her oncologist. I've been running into so much red tape to get a second opinion. not sure what that is all about either. it has made us all feel like "why bother". I'm going to keep pushing for an appointment at MD Anderson and the Moffitt Cancer Center (which is about 30 mins from her). Thanks again for the encouragement. best for you and your wife!

Mary

NYC, NY 

It is our pleasure.  Is your current oncologist at Sloan Kettering?  They are one of the worlds best and right in the city.

Keep us posted and keep the faith

 Steve

Hartford, CT

Hi Steve -

No, she lives in Florida and is being treated there but her oncologist studied at Sloan. I reconfirmed with her today, that we do think it would be difficult to  start treatment up here. she has a huge support system of friends and the hospital and oncology office are with in 3 miles of her home. it looks like we will need to get to the phase of "re-staging" though how do you re-stage stage IV? she needs to try and complete the treatment she is under and if it doesn't work I think her doctor will help us move to MDAnderson. New York will be too hard on her-even with us here. We'll keep on trying.

thanks so much

Mary