Stomach tumor reappears

I have posted here a few times during the year and now I just can't believe what I am about to tell you.  However, as cancer goes, anything is possible.  Just to recap, my husband is 50 years old, dx with stage 4 stomach cancer with mets to the peritoneum back in Jan 09.  So he starts chemo, docetaxel, 5FU and Cisplatin for 8 months, then they dropped the Cisplatin and docetaxel due to his neuropathy.  His CT scan showed great improvement, month of month, and just recently we were told that he might be able to move from the "inoperable" category to the "operable" and we were going to see the surgeon next week.  Ok, all good until 2 1/2 weeks ago when he started vomitting, not eating much, feeling full, all too familiar.  I spoke with the doctor and she said that it could be a bug that he picked up, nothing to worry about, however, it continued. 

Today he had another CT scan, well to my surprise, the tumor is back, mind you it had shrunk to 0.5cm and now it's large enough to block the food passage way into the small intestine.  So now they are looking to add a stent to open up the passage way in order for him to eat.  Also his stomach is twice a normal size.  So strange, how can this happen within 6 weeks timeframe.  He had a CT scan 6 weeks ago and now it's all back to square one.  I just don't understand it.  We are meeting with the GI specialist this Wednesday, so we should know more then on what to expect.

NJ123:

Sorry to hear that you are about to start yet another chapter in this battle.  My wife had stage IV in March of 07.  Her initial treatment was ECF (Epirubicin, Cisplatin, and 5FU); she was lucky and after 6 rounds of it (each 3 weeks) she was in remission.  She continued for another 2 rounds then switched to Oxaliplatin, Capecitabine, and 5 FU for another 3 months.  She continues today on Xeloda which is the oral form of 5FU.  Although she has been in remission since August of 07 she is still on the Xeloda.  The theory is as long as she can tolerate it and it is keeping her clean, why not continue. 

This is presented as an encouragement for you both.  Even though the size has increased, perhaps the cancer will be more affected by another chemo agent. 

I again am sorry to hear of this setback and am hopeful that the coming months brings improved news!

Steve (aka momwithkids)

I'm so sorry to hear that you husband has had a re-appearance of the tumor.   Although my husband too, had Cisplatin, Docetaxel and 5FU, they only dropped the Cisplatin as he declined their suggestion to come off the docetaxel and 5FU despite the neuropathy.   Did they leave your husband on the 5FU and Leucovorin, or something, after dropping the other two?  Was he receiving treatment in the same regular chemo cycles - once every two weeks or once every three weeks?

They've told us that consistency and always remaining on some form of chemo is the best way to treat this.

My thoughts and prayers are with you and the family. 

Karen

We are facing decisions with my mother who is 79 and recently diagnosed with a large GIST tumor.  She is adamant that preserving her quality if life is of upmost priority (she has not other health problems and is a vibrant, active 79). Has anyone received care at University of Chicago or Mayo clinic for a GIST.   

Well we just spent 3 days at Sloan Kettering, they drained his stomach and inserted the stent so that the food would flow through.  They want to do exploratory surgery to see what's going elsewhere.  We had been told that the chemo was working wonders and all the previous CT scans were looking better and better.  Since he went off the Cisplatin and Docetaxel and only remained on the 5 FU, I guess that's when the tumor started growing again.  But it happened so quickly, in jus one month's time.  The lymph nodes are also englarged, just like they were back in January.  My husband's mission right now is to gain as much weight as possible, he is down to 106 pounds and not strong enough for any other procedures.  They are going to place him on another chemo protocol, we just don't know which one.

Thanks to everyone for your thoughts and prayers. XOXO

Maria

Frances:

I am glad to hear that my wife's experience has encouraged you.  While we live in CT and received treatment in Hartford, the oncologist we credit with her recovery in part is Dr. Manish Shah who happens to be in the Gastric Oncology Department at Sloan Kettering (NY).  He was the oncologist who originally selected chemo therapy only and not any surgical intervention due to the cancer being Stage IV. 

I am praying that the scans on the 6th present you with positive news.  While my wife's experience has been somewhat unusual in it's success we are hopeful that others receive the same good news.  It is, and will remain a battle (worth fighting), good luck, my thoughts will be with you and your husband on the 6th!

Steve (aka momwithkids)