Screen Name: Martha
Date: May 27th 2005
To Urachal Adenocarcinoma victims:
I was diagnosed with urachal adenocarcinoma cancer in June, 2003.
I have had 2 bladder resection surgeries to date, removing most of my bladder.
These surgeries removed the tumors present both times, but didn't keep them away permanently. Unfortunately after the last surgery, another tumor developed very quickly and aggressively. Because of the size of it, my Doctors were leery to try and remove it with more surgery. They decided I should under go Radiation therapy as well as Chemo treatments of Sysplatimun and 5FU. This happened in the December 2004 time frame.
The treatments helped reduce the size of the tumor to a point where my doctors felt it might be removable. Multiple CT scan gave us visibility to the tumor, but it was not clear to what the tumor was attached to, or if it potentially only pushing against other organs. The only option for certain was to remove this thing totally encapsulated.
I underwent another round of surgery May 19th 2005 with the removal objective. I was prepped for the worst, meaning that if it was attached to other organs they would have to be removed, this potentially meant a Colostomy and a Urostomy. This major surgery would only be done if they felt a full clean removal was possible and if it hadn't spread.
Upon opening me up, active cancer nodules were visible now in the stomach muscle, meaning it had spread.
They aborted the mission and I was closed up.
To fellow Urachal Adenocarcinoma cancer warriors, I am coming down to my last options and hope....I'm searching for any glimmer of hope.
Some of the letter posted have referred to a chemo agent called "Gemzar". Can anyone tell me more about it or, perhaps let me know of any other drugs that have been tried.
I would really appreciate any help you can provide.
Sincerely,
Martha E.