Stage IV with Spread to Lymph Nodes

I was diagnosed in November 2008 with Stage IV Stomach Cancer with Metastasis to the Lymph Nodes (in abdomen and up to my neck).  Am being treated with Irrinotican, 5FU and Leucovorin.  Have had 9 rounds of chemo.  CT Scans show some shrinkage initially but second round of CT scans now show no improvement but also no new growth.  Studies show that typically, patients survive approximately 2 years.  This is not enough time as I am a 49 year-old widow with 2 children, ages 16 & 19.  I need more time to finish raising my children.  My Oncologist is awesome and is only trying to be honest with me but I want to know if anyone out there has the same scenario - stomach / lymph nodes and what is your prognosis.  Thank you.....Mary

Hi Mary

So sad to hear about your dx.  My husband was first dx with stomach cancer at the age of 49, they thought it was stage 3 until they performed a lapscoptic surgery and discovered it had mets to the intestines, at this time he has just turned 50.  My husband has gone through 7 rounds of chemo, # 8 next week, his CT results were similar to yours.  The first CT showed improvement, we were so pleased and then the second on on April 15th showed no change, however no growth as well.  So we weren't sure how to take the news, but his dr told us it was a good report because the cancer isn't spreading.  Ok, maybe the next CT scan will show improvement, we just don't know.  He is scheduled for another CT scan on May 27th, in the meantime we continue to do everything we can to get through the chemo at this point.

Mary, we try not to focus on the survival stats anymore and try to live each day as it comes.  We too had many plans, we have 2 daughters, and we wanted to both be there for them as they grow into adulthood, get married, have kids, etc.  We just have to keep positive through out this process and hope there will be more break throughs in the science world to help defeat this horrible cancer.

If you read through the posts on this site you will find people who have are living good lives past that 2 year mark, so stay focused on your health right now that's the most important, not what the numbers on a piece of paper say.

 

Mary,  I am sorry to hear of your situation, but unfortunately I am in the same place you aree.  I am 47 years old now.  In October 2006 I was diagnosed with Stomach Cancer, Stage IV Adenocarcinoma.  It had matastized to my lymphnodes. Out of the 22 lympnodes they resected, 11 tested postive.  Two days later, I had a subgastrectomy where they took 75% of my stomach.  I stayed 12 days in the hospital and went home to rest and recoup from surgery.I began 5 weeks of Infusion Therapy of 5 FU only.  In January of 2007 I began Chemotherapy and Radiation. Chemo was 5 FU and Leucovorin. CT and PET SCAN in March 2007 shows cancer was in remission and  I stayed in remission until January 2008 when it recurred in my lymphnode on the left side of my neck. My oncologist thought it had returned to all the major organs as well, but the CT and PET SCANS showed it to be localized to my  neck only and I began 5 weeks of radiation and then chemotherapy. My chemo was T-FOX, 5 FU and Leucovorin for 4 weeks. Another CT-PET SCAN was done in July 2008, October 2008 and January 2009 which all showed to be in remission.  In February 2009 I started feeling really nasuated with everything I ate or drank.  This went on for 2 or 3 weeks and my oncologist referred me back to my gastroenterolgist and he performed and EGD of my stomach and biopsed a couple of tissues in my stomach as well as finding it to be really red and inflammed.  Two days later, February 27,2009, I was told that my cancer had returned for a third time in my stomach.  I just finished this past Sunday three rounds of Chemo, Exloda 500 millagrams each, 1500 millagrams in the morning and 1500 millagrams in the evening, Infusion of Irinotecan CPT-11 (camptosar) . I now have another PET SCAN ordered and depending on those results, if they show it has remained localized to my stomach only, then in the first week of June 09 I will have the rest of my stomach removed.  Needless to say I have had some bad news and good news for the past three years. I continue to beat this cancer and try to keep a postive attitude as I have two teenage girls ages 17 and 19 that i want to see graduate high school and nursing school, get married and have grand children.  My oncologist and surgeons are really great and they keep trying to find treatments that will work on my.  They both agree that taking the rest of my stomach out will give my a great quality of life.  They tell me it is definetley not a cure but I will have a better chance of it not coming back and spreading to other places.  Let me know if I can help you but always keep a good attitude especially around your children and have faith and hope.  Show your healthcare team you are not giving up and they want give up on you.

My mother has been surviving this horrible cancer for 4 years.  There is definitely a chance to live past the 2 year mark, you just have to have hope.  My mother never asked the doctors how long she had to live and always tried to keep a positive attitude.  Please don't give up hope.

 Cindy

Dear Cindy,

      Even IF your Mom wanted to know HOW LONG...the doctorscould only tel you what they think, because they do NOT know....only God knows when its your time and does anyone really want to know, to just sit and wait??? Besides I know a man who asked and was given 6 MONTHS and hes still here 14 YEARS LATER....so as you see.ONLY GOD KNOWS.