Last Stages Of Stomach Cancer

Hi,

Please can someone help me ?    My Father has stomach cancer, originating from the bowel which has also spread to the liver.  Eight weeks a go he had a stent fitted to enable him to eat.  He was diagnosed in September 07.  He is now in hospital again with severe pain and vomiting.  They don't think that the stent is blocked.  Is this what happens near the end?, Does the stomach get completely fill with tumor? that you can no longer eat even if you wanted to.  

The Specialist nurse said that they don't alway like to tell you what may come next because I suppose it could freak you out.  At Christmas my Father had severe vomiting, I took him to my local Doctors and they gave him an anti-sickness drug , thinking it was his chemo but all along after 2 weeks of horrendous trauma it turned out to be his stomach that had blocked.  If I had known that this was a possibility then I could have dealt with it.

At the moment my Father is still so alert and not ready to die  but is skin and bones, very sad to see.

The Specialist nurse asked him today if he would like a day at the local Hospice.  He said "No Thanks people never come out of those places ".

The hospital have decided not to do a barium meal because they think they know whats causing the problem.

Please if someone could just enlighten me, at least I will know whats coming, not that it makes it any easier but at least the family can be more prepared for whats to come.  

I know now that there are many stages to go through and several people who have lost loved ones have said be prepared as there is lots more to come.

Thanks for listening, I don't know what I would do without this site it seems to be my life line at the moment.

God Bless everyone else who is suffering at the moment either as a patient or the carer.

Hello, I am so sorry to hear about your father's struggle with stomach cancer.  It is so hard to watch our loved ones go through this horrible disease.  I lost my wonderful husband to stomach cancer on February 22, 2008.  He was diagnosed with stage IV in February 2005.  He had surgery, chemo, radiation and chemo together, then chemo.  No cancer returned for two years. In February of 2007 he had mets to the liver and nodularity at the original site of cancer at the gastroesophageal junction.  They put him on Taxol which he stayed on until November of 2007.  The doc said she wanted to give him a break from chemo for about a month.  She said he would probably be on it forever. Around Thanksgiving he started having trouble swallowing, his food felt like it was stuck, and he was losing weight.  He had stomach pain and was vomiting.  He had a malignant stricture that prevented the food from going into the stomach.  They inserted a J tube February 13 but he passed February 22.  He could not eat or drink.  He did not speak those last two weeks and was not alert like your dad.  He was in a semi-comatose state and could hear what I was saying but could not respond.  Even though he was comatose, he was restless and kept trying to sit up.  I guess this is normal when a person is dying - it's delirium (hospice said). His breathing became labored for about 13 hours and he finally gave up.  It's so hard, but at least he is not suffering.  Enjoy your time with your dad while he is still alert.  Hope this helps. 

Diane

Scott, thanks for your kind words.  I have been following your and Rick's journey and your upbeat positive attitude is inspirational. 

Yes, Mike lasted three years and fought like a warrior.  He was larger than life and he is so missed by his family, friends and so much by myself.  The hardest part of this whole ugly ordeal is that he is gone - it's like a living nightmare - the loss is so great.  I know we will be together again - that's what keeps me going. 

You and Rick are in my prayers.  God's Blessings on you both,

Diane