New to the news

Hi

Welcome to our group..which no one really wants to join! But hopefully you will find a lot of support!  Stomach cancer is treatable especially if it’s found early.

I had chemo, then a partial gastrectomy four years ago.  I now live a normal life,  I am looking forward to going out for a meal tonight!  Something I wouldn’t have thought possible when I was diagnosed!

It does take time to adjust especially if it’s a total gastrectomy but there are lots f people on this group who will share their experiences!

Are you having chemo before surgery? 

Hi Milly and sorry you find your self here. I’m on this site for my husband he had a total Gastrectomy in January, he was in hospital 7 days and since coming home  apart from a few hick ups he hasn’t looked back.  He’s slowly putting the 1 stone on he lost while in hospital and doing all he did before, keeping in mind he’s 80 so it’s not as much a a younger person would be doing. He’s eating everything only in smaller portions. He didn’t have chemo before or after the operation, his surgeon and hospital said they don’t give it to over 75s, it’s a bit worrying but it is what it is. Good luck xx

Dear Sue, thank you, it’s great to hear positive news and fantastic that your husband is doing so well. I think it’s just the initial shock then everyone reacting as if your funeral is around the corner! I want to get on with my life and face each day as a gift. It certainly does give you a new perspective. My husband is 80 and I’m more concerned about him losing weight because he can’t cook . Thank you once again for the support.

Hi Jac, thank you for taking the time to offer some words of wisdom. Every recovery I hear about is an affirmation of the chance of a full recovery when my husband likes to regale me with horror stories and his devastation is not helpful. Im quite an independent person and I like to deal with life’s challenges internally which people don’t understand. I’m not having chemotherapy before but told I might after. How soon post op until you were pottering around the house or going for a little stroll? 

Hi 

I recovered really well much better than I could have hoped.  I wrote a blog which you can read if you click on my name.

I was on the Enhanced Recovery Programme in hospital so they had me up and walking a couple of days after the operation.  I was in HDU for four days and walked up to an ordinary ward on Day 5!  They couldn’t find a porter to take me and my sister is a nurse in the hospital I was in, so she took me up to the ward.  I got home the next day and was walking about the house.  I then started going for short walks. I went back to work after six weeks part time. 
I didn’t have chemo after surgery but I did have chemo before it.

I focused on getting as fit as I could before surgery and getting as much information as I could about eating without a stomach! Who knew!