My Mom was recently diagnosed with Stage 4 stomach cancer. It has spread and surgery is not a possibility. We know spread includes colon and mesenteric tissue around the intestines. She has started a chemo treatment that includes oxilaplatin(sp) and Xeloda(5fu) last week. The plan is 4 rounds and look at the CT scan. They are basically trying to control it and prolong her life. She had fluid from the cancer fill her lung up which caused shortness of breath and pneumonia late Nov 2006 but no other symptoms. She has lost 20lbs since then but nothing before. A cluster of cells found in the 2+ liters pulled off of her lung were adenocarcinoma and prompted an abdominal CT scan. They saw the cancer in that scan in her mesenteric tissue. They needed to find the origina and were expecting Ovarian. The CA-125 test was not high enough to say Ovarian so laproscopic surgery was performed on 12/18. During that surgery they found the cancer on the outside of her colon and a tumor on the top of her stomach. Several tissue samples were taken and pathology tests were finally completed last week. They report "appears to be of gastric origin." The treatment is how I started this message. I am reading the posts and information on this site which is very informative and somewhat scary about her months to come. Her first chemo treatment went without nausea and some of the more severe side effects but the anti-nausea drug, Compazine seems to have caused the worst syptoms. She basically in a trance for 4 days. Unable to really stay awake. Her tongue protruded at times. Her speech was difficult and slurred. She would just stare with her eyes barely open. These are side effects that we attributed to the first chemo since tiredness and fatigue are common but it appears Compazine was the problem. These side effects were not even mentioned to us and I have a concern. Has anyone else taken or have experience with Compazine? My Mom was so "out-of-it" that at one point she couldn't control her bowels enough to make it to the bathroom in time. is that chemo, the Compazine, both. Since this is all new I don't know enough yet.
Also, if cancer is on the outside of an organ does that mean it originated inside?
God bless all who are battling this illness. This site is a blessing with the sharing of information and providing emotional support. I am looking for as many sources of both as I can find. Thanks in advance to all who read and can give me some insight.