Anyone With Stomach Cancer

Hi Jay, Hope all is still well with you and yours...you were mentioning that you went to another provider because the other was outdated...how did you find out what were the up and coming drugs and which ones are outdated? thanks

Hi Bill,
When I was first diagnosed (and it took months to get a diagnosis) they didn't know what stage it was. When I was operated on, they discovered the cancer had already spread beyond the stomach and was starting little colonies throughout my abdomen. This made it stage IV. They removed 85% of my stomach and the little colonies they could see before starting chemo the first time.

I'm now in chemo for the second time since a recent scan showed the cancer had returned, both to what was left of my stomach and more little colonies throughout the abdomen. I am taking taxotere only, once every three weeks. We'll do another scan in three weeks to see if it is making a difference.

The supplements I am taking have not been recommended by any doctor, but are things we have researched or learned about from other people with similar cancers. They are supposed to enhance the chemo. Who knows? When you're in stage IV and your doctor talks about palliative care, you do anything.

I drink avemar when I first get up in the morning. It's a powder mixed with water and is supposed to help with appetite and weight gain. It tastes awful but appears to be helping as I've gained three pounds in three weeks--quite a turnaround as I had been losing weight every week and had gone under 90 pounds.

I take AHCC and melatonin, both of which are supposed to enhance the chemo. In addition, I take vitamins, CQ10, and Vit D. I feel pretty strong, am still driving and can walk a mile (if I feel like it).

Like I said, my oncologist only recommended a multiple vitamin, but he knows what we're taking and hasn't any objections. My doctor did write an Rx for an antidepressant yesterday to stop me from weeping all the time. I can't wait for that one to kick in.

I hope your wife is doing okay and that you are taking care of yourself as well. I know this whole trip has been hard on my husband, bless his heart. I don't know what I would do without him.

Take care,
Teri

Teri,

Thank you for your response. My wife's care was tremendous. The doctor immediately ordered follow-up testing when she went in for the first time, having lost about 50 pounds and unable to eat. Test followed test until they discovered the cancer within about three or four days. We wre then referred to MD Anderson since none of the local hospitals would even consider seeing her. We were able to into MD Anderson within about three weeks and they were wonderful to her. The doctor (Pisters) done surgery the day after we saw him but was fearful that the cancer had already spread beyond the stomach. They did not remove any of her stomach since they felt that would just delay the start of her chemo and told us that she would never be a surgical candidate. They inserted a feeding tube into her abdomen and also a central venous catheter to aid in chemo. She isn't able to eat anything solid so her main source of nutrition is through the feeding tube that she uses every day.
Our doctors have not recommended any vitamins and we have specifically asked. I will pass these along to my wife and maybe speak with the oncologist next time we see them.
I hope things are well with you and you can continue to battle this disease. We will be praying for you and your family. If your husband would like to converse please encourage him to do so. Take care of yourself.

Respectfully,

Bill

Has anyone purchased cancer insurance before? can you recommend a good company?

Dear Bill, So glad that you were able to get into see a good doctor. How is your wife doing since the surgery? What supplement is your wife on? ensure? boost? my brother is on something i have never heard of. He is losing so much weight.

Are ya'll staying at MD Anderson for her treatments? Have they started the treatments yet? My brother is still there awaiting his second opinion tomorrow. We pray that he will be a candidate for a study or that the docs there will be able to offer some hope. The worst thing is when they give you no hope. The social worker and one of the oncologists at vanderbilt pretty much told my mother that chemo wouldn't help anyway and since he had no insurance just to keep him comfortable. Since it was outpatient they didn't have to treat him . I thought that was brutal!!! My family loves MD Anderson so far. Best of luck, Patty

hi, i was just reading about your treatments and that they have eradicated a lot of your cancer. Is this treatment different from what we get in the US? Seems that you have had a lot of progress with your chemo. patty

Patty,

Thank you for your concern for my wife Jackie. She is doing okay even though she has had a couple of really bad weeks of chemo. She was not able to have surgery to remove the tumor or the stomach. Once they got inside her abdomen, they found the metastasis and pulled out and put the feeding tube and CVC for chemo use. She is being fed Boost (5 cans per day) and it has really made a difference. She has been able to maintain her weight fairly well. She had lost 50 pounds when she was first diagnosed. We were at MD Anderson where Jackie was seen by Dr Pisters (Surgical Oncologist) who done her surgery or attempted to do surgery and Dr. Phan (Medical Oncologist). Dr Phan orders the chemo regimen and we are having the chemo done in the Waco community where we live. Six weeks of chemo and the second week following, we go to MD Anderson for more x-rays, blood work and CT Scans. Which doctor are you seeing? I have also heard that Dr Evans is an excellent physician but I understand that he deals mostly with prostate cancer. Jackie was not a candidate for a clinical trial either. Between them not being able to remove the tumor and the fact that she required a blood transfusion during surgery automatically renders her ineligible for any trial. I understand your position when they simply give you no hope but a timeline only. Stay in touch and we will send a special prayer to the Lord on your behalf today! I can only say to keep your faith. Cancer may wreck havoc here on earth but a day will come that they WILL be cancer free!!!!

hi Bill, Thanks for the heartfelt response. My brother is seeing Dr. Ajani who we were told was a great stomach cancer doctor. My brother did get into a clinical trial which he will start the chemo on tuesday. It is the end of phase one trial so he will definately get the new drug. We were told that you get much more carefully monitored care while in a study.

He is not a surgery candidate. I really liked this doctors philosophy though...he said you could die tomorrow or in 5 years but so could I. My brother is very down and depressed. my family says he doesn't get out of bed except to go to the appointments. I worry about his lack of fight ...patty

Patty,
Sorry but I don't really know that much about Dr. Ajani other than seeing the name on the department listing. I do hope all is well with your brother and he is developing a better fighting spirit. My wife has really taught me that a persons mental state does a lot to help to improve their outlook and really goes a long way in making everyday count. The thing that we have to do is to understand that every day is a day to be treasured and we have to make the most of each day. The saying "Today is a gift and that's why it is called the present" means a lot more to me today that it did six months ago. I am a long term planner but Jackie's disease has taught me to simply focus on today and be greatful to God for today. Your brothers' doctor is right, we are not promised tomorrow. I am praying for you and your family and pray that God would bless you and I do pray that your brother would be comforted and/or healed by God and that He would grant your family peace, comfort and His presence. Take care and keep in touch.

Bill

Hi I just want to wish you all the best of luck and health.I lost the best mum you could wish for on 26th sept 2005 to this savage disease.She was so brave throughout her tretments but as she was diagnosed in stage 4 and it had spread to her lungs and peritonium it didn't really help.My mum was called Lynda and i can honestly say I am proud to be her daughter,she was also too young only 62.So keep positive and keep fighting all of you.Good luck. PAULA