Cancelled surgery

Hello UnicornD. I'm not in this situation, my op is next week and the scans have been good, but I just felt compelled to reply and extend my heartfelt sympathy for your situation. It made me feel very sad that someone has had their optimism for a cure taken away like this. You must feel absolutely distraught. Did you have a CT scan and PET scan before your op? Have you had pre-op FLOT chemo? I'm genuinely shocked they never found this before your operation. I really hope the further chemotherapy you have can improve your health and give you a quality of life. Wishing you all the very best and lots of strength to face the coming weeks and months.

Hi UnicornD

My mother had stomach cancer (extended in lymph nodes behind the coeliac axis and the veins for the stomach spleen and liver). I know that in standard cases for the stomach there’s no radiotherapy and there’s 4 FLOT surgery and 4 FLOT. The lymph node issue meant she had 7 FLOT upfront and then surgery and the chemo shrunk the tumour in that area and that meant surgery was possible- it was absolutely not a good idea to do after four. Would that be something that your oncologists consider? If this is in the same area-  My mums surgeon said also the vein supplying blood to the spleen and the stomach can go- if the stomach is coming out. I know that yours is likely oesophageal but it might be that radical surgery is possible. It’s worth mentioning also that this was a second opinion that offered curative pathways and the first set of doctors did not think it would be a good idea to go for so much chemo, and they offered palliative CAPOX and not FLOT. I am wishing you all the best and I’m sorry if this isn’t particularly helpful x

Yes I had 4 lots of pre-op chemo followed by CT scan and a PET scan. Everything was fine until they started the op. My surgeon was off but he recommended his replacement and when she found the problem,she videoconferenced him in surgery and they both agreed it would be too risky to carry on. 

I had the standard 4 FLOT before and was due to have 4 sessions after. I'm being referred back to Christie's so I might know more when I get there. My tumour is right at the junction of oesophagus and stomach.

UnicornD

Sorry to say my tumour  was in the same place as yours . My operation was 8th August this year . Once i was opened up they decided to take full stomach 

They haven't even mentioned trying again. I'm hoping something can be done but that's up to them x

I'm genuinely shocked at what's happened, and left wondering why the scans, particularly the PET scan, never picked this up. So worrying for you, and I hope you get an explanation. Also to have a replacement surgeon? That's also shocking! I'd rather my op was postponed than have another surgeon at that late stage. It makes very sad and concerning reading, and I hope that maybe they'll look into your case further and can still operate at some point. To leave you with no answers us unforgivable and highly stressful.

I'm sorry to read this Unicorn. I hope you are able to ask for further explanation.