GIST cancer and gastrectomy

3 replies
25 subscribers
139 views

Hi, my dad has GIST cancer. He was hoping to continue taking imitinab, but he has had some awful allergic reactions to the drug. Swollen tongue, unable to breathe etc. The Drs won't continue with it as it could be life threatening to him.

So looks like the only option is a gastrectomy. He doesn't want to go ahead with it though. He is worried about quality of life afterwards. I have read that although eating is hard to begin with, you can go back to almost normal eating after a while. He is also worried about other common long-term side effects. Does anyone have any advice, information on living with no stomach.

Any help, greatly appreciated, thank you

Jacquiw10 24 days ago

I am so sorry to hear about your dad. The medical team wouldn’t suggest surgery if it wasn’t the best option. I had a partial gastrectomy six years ago and now eat and drink much as before.
Others have a total gastrectomy and you can eat without a stomach!

I found the Oesophageal Patient Association a good place to start for information. I researched how to recover and focused on small quantities at first. It’s a soft diet then build up gradually.
Do post questions here as there are lots of people who can help.

Jac

Life is what happens when you are making other plans!

Sop 24 days ago

Hi, I had a sub total gastrectomy last year and now I pretty much eat what I did before, hopefully you will get some more replies as there are people on here who have had a total gastrectomy and are also doing well, it’s a very daunting thought when they suggest surgery but you really can live without a stomach,

The Art of Eating Without a Stomach by Peter Graham Thatcher, is a good book was very helpful and available on kindle

good luck

Rachel23 24 days ago in reply to Sop

Hi, thanks for this. It's good to hear and I am glad you are doing well. I'll look that book up.

Thanks again

More from this forum

GIST cancer and gastrectomy