Newly Diagnosed Stage 4 Stomach (?) Cancer

Good afternoon, I am so sorry to hear what you're going through. I truly understand thank God that I always had a blessing with my family and friends With support so. I can be his support person. If you like you can email me and I can email you back.or You can talk on this chat, but no one should have to go through anything like this alone. Because everyone needs help and some type of support. And I'm so sorry that I don't know where he'd go for treatment that they're not giving him any support.  Because it should be some type of support team nurse or the doctor can walk him through walk. You guys through it when you go to his treatment, maybe you can x somebody that you need some type of support, because you guys need help, I'll be praying that you do get some. Type of help.

I am so sorry i'm trying to learn how to do this check thing

Hello Rosa

I'm so sorry to read the news about your uncle, and I can understand that you are feeling devastated, and unsupported.

In situations where stage 4 cancer is found, and it has already spread to other organs, and most importantly the lymph nodes, surgery is not offered. Because the cancer is present in the lymph system, it is not advisable to have surgery, as this can cause the cancer to spread further via the lymph system, and would not achieve anything. It could actually make the situation worse.

However, it is not all doom and gloom. Other treatments, such as immunotherapy, are used in these situations. They may not offer a full 'cure', but can manage and control the cancer. I had this type of treatment over 3 years ago, and I'm still here, still feeling well and still able to live a normal life.

Waiting 3 weeks for a biopsy result is quite 'normal'....sometimes people wait for 4 weeks or more. I'm sure your uncle has not been forgotten or abandoned....but he could call the department that are dealing with his case, to find out what's happening. Once the biopsy results are in, his team will assess them and come up with a treatment plan. 

I know it is a horrible time waiting for something to happen. I can remember feeling exactly the same. It does get easier to manage the anxiety, once a treatment plan is in place.

Best wishes

Kate

Thanks so much, I really appreciate the support. We have got a really strong family system so he’s not on his own but we just feel like we are in limbo with no one telling us what is going on and the support from the hospital has been abysmal. He has no doctor, no formal diagnosis and is currently suffering from fluid in his lungs so is in hospital but yet again no one is telling us anything. He has private health insurance so we are hoping to get him into a private hospital tomorrow and he will receive better treatment there (fingers crossed) 

Hi Kate, thanks so much for your response and explanation, it feels so much better actually understanding why they won’t operate, although they didn’t tell us themselves just blatantly said “we won’t be operating” ?? Which makes us feel hopeless. Unfortunately we don’t seem to even have a team yet, no actual doctor or anyone who we can speak to to ask questions and just keep getting told bad news after bad news. Really positive to hear of your story and we are going to suggest immunotherapy to whomever is in control of his case eventually. Long may your good health continue!  

unfortunately he is really poorly at the moment with fluid on his lungs and can barely breathe or speak, so we are having to sort things for him which is what has led me to this page as none of us know how to navigate this. We as a family really appreciate your message and are going to keep hold of it to fire back at the doctors when we get to meet them. 

Hi again Rosa

This sounds like a very difficult situation to be in, and it must be very frustrating and worrying for you all. Going private may be the way forward, at least to get the fluid on the lungs sorted.

If you continue to be unhappy with how the hospital are dealing with this, I'd suggest contacting the PALS service at the hospital. They should be able to improve the communications with your family.

I hope your uncle is improving.

xxx Kate