Lisa and Scans and Update - Good News!

Good news for my 44 year old spouse who was diagnosed with Stage IV stomach cancer in March of 07.  Her treatment and positive attitude have kept her in remission since August of 07; she remains in remission today.  Lisa also remains on Xeloda (oral chemo) at 2,000mg/day.

The good news is that her oncologist has finally decided that we can extend the period of time between her scans which is always a welcomed mile stone.

My thanks to the many people that dedicate time on this site and provide details of their experience and treatments; it is greatly appreciated as many times we are left to make the final decisions ourselves with the oncologist only providing advice.

May God bless those that have passed and continue to look over those that continue the daily battle against this disease and the many people that support them. 

Have a pleasant spring and focus on whatever positives you can!!!

Steve

Aka momwithkids

Such good news, congratulations to you both.

My husband just had his second good scan since his stage IV recurrence in November of 2008. We feel so blessed that he is doing well with his treatment. It has not been without some serious side effects but he is on "a break" for now. 

We were able to see our middle son graduate from college last week and in January we just didn't know if he would even be here or be able to make the trip if he was. We pray he will see our youngest graduate as well.

Again, so glad to hear Lisa is doing well. It is always so good to hear of those beating the odds. Best wishes to you both.

 Blessings,

Lissa

Yeah!!! Wonderful news.  I am so happy for you both.

Question, will Lisa continue taking the Xeloda for a while longer, or will she be able to come off of the drugs and live freely without them?

I know she has been on several different treatments and she has done well, just wondering how much longer she will be on chemo.

Maria

Steve,

So glad to hear that Lisa continues to beat this monster. It is truly inspiring to see and hear from people who lie on the positive side of this disease. Thanks for all that you both share with the rest of us living in "Cancer World". We can all use the inspiring news.

Congrats to you both and keep up the good work. Things here continue to be back to "normal", 36th chemo treatment next Tuesday and the side effects from the Taxotere seem to be nonexistent after the dose reduction.

Enjoy the spring and keep the good news coming............Scott

On 5/23/2009 NJ123 wrote:

Yeah!!! Wonderful news.  I am so happy for you both.

Question, will Lisa continue taking the Xeloda for a while longer, or will she be able to come off of the drugs and live freely without them?

I know she has been on several different treatments and she has done well, just wondering how much longer she will be on chemo.

Maria

Maria:

Lisa has been to three oncologists recently that have all recommended that she stay on the Xeloda for as long as she can.  They honestly tell you that they do not know what the answer is, but if the cancer is in remission, and the side effects are not that great, why stop it and risk a relapse.  They say the same thing about her blood thinner which is daily shot due to the coumadin not mixing well with Xeloda - they say, well you could stop it but then you might get a blood clot so why not just keep taking it.

This has been one of the aggrevations the whole way, they have explained things then left it up to us to decide and some of the decisions are very, very difficult to make. 

Feel free to always ask questions.  She has now been on chemo since April of 07; thats two years and a month! 

Steve

aka momwithkids

Steve,

So happy to hear that you wife is doing well all this time.  I was wondering if her treament has included surgery or just chemo and or radiation? My mom has responded well to chemo and radiation after being diagnosed with Stage 4 in Nov 08, but now the recomendation is a complete gastronectomy now that the tumor has been reduced in size.

Just trying to find if just fighting it with chemo and radiation is being done w/o surgery. Seems that the recomendations are for surgery in any case where it is possible, did you get that adivce as well?

 Thanks in advance for anything you can share.

 Thanks,

Jpoobah

On 6/8/2009 jpoobah wrote:

Steve,

So happy to hear that you wife is doing well all this time.  I was wondering if her treament has included surgery or just chemo and or radiation? My mom has responded well to chemo and radiation after being diagnosed with Stage 4 in Nov 08, but now the recomendation is a complete gastronectomy now that the tumor has been reduced in size.

Just trying to find if just fighting it with chemo and radiation is being done w/o surgery. Seems that the recomendations are for surgery in any case where it is possible, did you get that adivce as well?

 Thanks in advance for anything you can share.

 Thanks,

 

Jpoobah

 

Jpoobah:

Back in April of 07 when originally diagnosed the oncologist recommended surgery but then we found out it had spread to a single spot in her liver and she went on ECF chemo.  Post three months both tumors had disappeared and they again considered surgery; however our third opinion from Sloan Kettering strongly recommended against that procedure (partial removal of stomach) and instead recommended continued chemotherapy as the tumors had responded so well to the treatment.  Therefore, no surgery and she has continued on the chemotherapy.  With her case you must be aware that although it had spread we caught if very early and both tumors were small 3-4cm.  She had received no radiation as it was not necessary since the chemo killed all the cancer cells.  The theory behind continued chemo was since it had spread to the liver, it could be anywhere and the chemo is the only weapon that can deliver effective treatment throughout the body.

Surgergical interventions seem to be used in cases like yours where the main tumor site has been affected by the chemo (tumor is shrinking) but does not completely destroy the tumor and thus the theory is that by removing the main threat and treating with chemo after you have removed the main threat and then address the possibility of cancer cells being in other places with the chemo.  Also, by reducing the tumor size it tells us that the cancer is reacting to the chemo being administered.

Either way, the surgery is a major surgery and a personal one.  I would definately get at least one second opinion prior to a surgical intervention.  WE have received opionions during our ordeal from:

Hartford Hospital (this is where she is treated)

Sloan Kettering / Dana Farber / Columbia (NY) / and Yale New Haven

All these opinions have given us important insight into different recommendations however, in the end, the decision lies with the patient and their family. 

Get at least one more opinion and drive the process; dont wait for appointments really push it.  These are busy people but you have decisions to make and you need their advice.  Also remember to have a copy of all your diagnostic tests and oncology notes (get a whole copy of your oncology file) and send it to them in advance so you do not wast time and you can refer to your own copy to ensure they looked at everything.

Good luck with your decision, it is a difficult one.  Get another opinion.  Be glad that the tumor is responding to the treatment. 

Steve aka momwithkids