Hello everyone,
My sister-in-law Donna was diagnosed with stage IV linitis plastica last week. Two weeks prior, she was diagnosed with stage III, however, further scans indicated that the cancer had metastasized to her vertebrae (both the upper and lower portions). She is only 44 years old and has always been very healthy and energetic, so this of course came as an incredible shock. She had been complaining of pain in her stomach and back for 3 months before the diagnosis, and had undergone many tests during those 3 months...all of which showed nothing. So to find out she had cancer and that it was this progressed has been devastating. Basically, I am trying to help her in any way I can....to find out which treatments may be the most beneficial; is nutrition a key, etc. Has anyone ever heard of the benefits of a macrobiotic diet? I am desperate to help her. She is not aware of the grim statistics involved with her diagnosis -- she said the doctors are not God and her fate does not lie in their hands, so when they asked her if she wanted to know the statistics, she said no. She is determined to win the battle against this awful disease, and I want to help. She has an incredibly positive attitude. However, she has expressed some reluctancy to try alternative medicine, which I feel is a very hopeful avenue for her. She believes that chemo is her best option at this point, but I am aware that it is just buying her time and would like to steer her to a more proactive path. Any suggestions, advice, information would be most appreciated. Also, please pray for her. I know there are many others out there suffering from this terrible disease, and I believe that prayer and hope can do amazing things. I pray for all of you who have this disease and those who have a loved one or friend who are fighting it. Thanks for any advice you may have.