Stage 4 stomach cancer - other forms of treatment

Hi I have stage 4 gastric cancer , was diagnosed last year , like your dad was given very little hope , I had 6 cycles of Capox chemotherapy, tumour has shrunk and no more treatment at moment got scan in October to see what’s happening, Don’t give up hope, it’s been a rough 8 months but I have hope for future now, best advice I can give is just take things a day at a time , solve one problem at a time and try not to worry about what may happen, you stay strong and be positive, I told my oncologist I didn’t care what he said about how long I had left , I’m gonna be here years yet

Hi, thank you for your response, it provides me with a little bit of positivity! Hope you're feeling well. 

Yeah I’m ok, glad I could help a bit , there are loads of great people on here to chat too, another piece of advice I was given , do not google about the cancer it will only worry you more, and what happened to other people will not necessarily happen to your dad

• Hello, I was diagnosed with stage IV gastric cancer in October 2023 I was given 12 sessions of chemo (folfox). The tumor shrank but did not disappear. Given that my doctors believe I can handle the treatment exceptionally well, they have decided to give me chemo in maintenance mode. So, I have been on chemo non-stop since June 2024. I forgot at the beginning, they gave me a year to live. As of today, I live a fairly normal life: I work, go to the gym, in short, almost normal life.

Don't get discouraged. You never know what will happen. Every body reacts differently. By the way, I lost 20 kilos and have already gained 12 back. So, keep your spirits up. You never know. I'm speaking from experience.

Hi, my husband (55) was diagnosed earlier this month, stomach with spleen involvement. Apparently it’s unusual case, he still has zero symptoms and was found by chance.  Last week we had been prepared for surgery - total gastrectomy and splenectomy.  Had just got our heads round that but on Tuesday they informed us they weren’t sure surgery would be in his interests. He is not a candidate for chemotherapy because of infection at splenic area. He had staging laparoscopy on Wednesday, thankfully initial indication was positive but we are waiting now on biopsies and washings to confirm if he can have surgery.  It was mentioned that if they can’t do surgery or chemo there is a trial in Bristol he may be eligible for though this was not talked about in any detail.  I know nothing more than that but might be worth mentioning. I too had asked about HIPEC and was told no it wouldn’t be an option.  We are hoping that surgery goes ahead and after spleen is gone he can be offered chemo. Trying very much to stay positive, our youngest is 9 years old and doesn’t really understand, for us all it seems incredible that his dad is so ill when he is currently fit and active and pain free.  

Hi.....could I ask what treatment you are on long term. I have stage 4 stomach cancer and had Capox 8 sessions....9 months off..... another 8 sessions of capox due to slight disease progression. I have had a few weeks break but have been advised to start a different therapy with no specific end date. My choices are Folfiri or weekly Paclitaxel.

The maintenance treatment I am receiving is capecitabine. I have currently had 22 sessions of this treatment and so far there has been no progression.

greetings

Thank you for your information

Kind regards

Jo

How did you put the weight back on? I’ve lost 10kgs and need to put it back on for chemo.

thanks 

Hi, with a lot of exercise and eating a lot of protein, I've managed to regain 10kg, but after regaining those kilos, I haven't been able to gain any more. According to my oncologist, it must be a side effect of the chemotherapy that has caused malabsorption syndrome.