EOX Chemo for metastatic stomach cancer

Hi. I'm new to these forums but am desperate for some help and advice. My husband was diagnosed with metastatic gastric cancer just before christmas and was prescribed 6 cycles of EOX chemotherapy. After 3 cycles he had a CT scan which showed significant shrinkage of the lymph nodes (the tumour in his stomach cannot be seen on a CT it was found doing a gastroscopy). His tumour marker had also reduced a lot. The problem started on leaving the chemo unit after his 4th cycle. He felt almost drunk for a few days but had no vomiting (they had changed his sickness meds as had vomitted a lot on the first 3 cycles).The dizziness subsided and he was feeling relatively well with his appetite even improving and him looking forward to food. However a week or so before his 5th cycle the dizziness came back and he vomitted occasionally. He mentioned this to the nurse at the chemo unit before they started the 5th cycle and it was decided to defer him for a week and arranged for him to see his oncologist. That appointment was this week. The oncologist seemed quite surprised at his symptoms and arranged for an urgent head CT which he had 2 days later. He also prescribed cyclizine to hopefully resolve the dizziness. He had to stop taking his usual antisickness for this. From that day he has been vomiting several times a day and just wants to sleep all of the time. He is now thinking the cancer has spread to his brain and thats it for him. He won't let me contact anyone about his sickness and I'm really worried he may end up in hospital with dehydration. Is there anyone out there who has had or is having EOX chemo and had the same symptoms. Can a cancer spread when it seems to be responding to the chemo. My kids and I feel like we are walking on eggshells with him XXX

 

  • Hi Mack,

    I have a similar cancer to your husband's, in my case at the junction of my stomach and oesophagus. I was also prescribed EOX chemo.

    This may seem a bit off the wall, but please bear with me. Chemo messes up your immune system, which leaves you open to all sorts of viral and bacterial infections - no-one will argue with that. 

    As well as cancer, I now also have a history of labrynthitis - the symptoms of which are very similar to your husband's. At the time (a few months post chemo) I was convinced that my symptoms were caused by brain mets but after lots of worry it was actually found to be viral labrynthitis. When cancer is at the front of your mind it is very easy (whether a patient or a doctor) to imagine that every new symptom is cancer related. Sometimes it is just a run of the mill infection causing the symptoms. 

    Obviously I am not a health care professional, just another cancer patient, but I went through several weeks of stress before brain mets were ruled out and the real cause was identified.

    I hope the cause of your husband's dizziness and nausea turns out to be something as trivial as mine was, but I understand just how scary this is for him and you. 

    Good luck!

    Dave 

     

  • Hi Dave

    Thank you so much for your prompt reply. Funnily enough I showed my husband one of your posts at the beginning of the week (before the possibility of brain mets was discussed) and he was very reassured by it. Hopefully we will get the results we want when we see his oncologist next week.

     

    Take care!

  • Hi

    Just thought I would update following my first post on 5th May. 

    I was right to worry as my husband was admitted to hospital 2 days later and passed away 14th May. The dizziness and vomiting were down to a build up of fluid in his brain and from his hospital admission I never had the opportunity to talk to him about what was happening. He was all there inside but couldn't communicate. We are still in shock I think all these weeks later.

  • Hi,

    I am so sorry to read that things went downhill so rapidly after your first post. I can only imagine the impact this must have had on you and your family.

    Best wishes

    Dave