On 5/17/2008
nurseDIL wrote:
Hi,
I am a nurse and my mother in law was diagnosed with Stage IV "inoperable" stomach cancer (mets to liver 4 lesions, and nodes) in March 2007. She was diagnosed via endoscopy and CT scan showed mets to liver and nodes. She had a gastric stent placed and started with Irinotecan and Cisplatin and the tumor increased in size. She was switched to Avastin, Xeloda, Oxiliplatin, with great results. The tumors in her liver shrunk by almost 40% but then her neuropathy increased, she had severe Palmar-Plantar Erythrodysesthesia (skin on feet were red and peeling) and platelets were <75,000 and the chemo regimen was cut gradually to 50%. The most recent CT showed tumor growth (one tumor increased by 2 cm). Her doc is now saying that he feels she should try a clinical trial. We asked him about liver directed chemo since the liver seems to be the worst area but they didn't feel she was a good canditate since she was Stage 4. Has anyone with Stage 4 had liver directed therapy? Also, we live in Maryland. Anyone know of a great oncologist in the state or nearby states that has experience with gastric cancer? It seems to be an Asian disease and it's hard to find someone with experience in our area. Any help or suggestions are welcome.
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Well, I'm not quite back on the bike, but I'm healthy enough to travel and move forward with treatment. Tomorrow I'm spending the day at the University of Maryland being evaluted to see if I am a candidate for the SIR-Spheres treatment. Basically, it's a process where a large number of tiny (thinner than human hair) spheres are irradiated with Yittrium-90 and then squirted into the artery that feeds the liver. They preferentially go towards tumors (counter-intuitive, but true), and both block blood flow to the tumors and irradiate them. |
nurseDIL,
this is an excerpt from a man (randy pausch) who is fighting pancreatic cancer. his liver is also damaged by the disease. but i read on his blog that he was going to seek treatment in maryland. i hope this helps! stay strong!! i just lost my father to this horrible disease 13 days ago. i will keep you and your mother in law in my prayers. take care, kris