Hello Toby

I'm sorry to hear about your Dad's diagnosis. It's obviously a difficult time for you all and I hope that he is recovering from his surgery. 

Signet ring cell carcinoma is a rare cancer and having looked through the forum I can't see that we've any other members who have posted recently about this diagnosis. 

The treatment you have for signet cell cancer depends on where in the body the cancer starts. So for your Dad,  a signet cell cancer in the stomach is treated as stomach cancer and you can read more about that on our website here. 

Coping with a diagnosis of a rare cancer can be especially difficult and it can certainly help to talk to someone. You may find it helpful to chat with one of our team of nurses. I'm sure they would be happy to talk things through with you and offer any advice and support that they can. If you'd like to talk to them they're available Monday to Friday 9 am to 5 pm on 0808 800 4040. 

I hope this helps. 

Best wishes, 
Jenn
Cancer Chat moderator 

Hi Toby, 

I lost my 60yr old sister to SRCC it is a rare cancer and she was told even after a full stomach removal the chance of survival is slim. Had we known what we know now i honestly dont think she would have had the operation to start with. Big operation to be told they hadnt been able to take it all away. She struggled to eat after the op which was a big problem. Then started chemo which made her really sick and lifless. Just wanted to tell you our experiences of this dreadfull disease.

I wish you and your family all the best, and hope if he does take Chemo it works for him 

Debbie

Thank you Jenn. I will sure have a read at your materials. 

Hi Debbie

Thank you so much for taking the time to respond to my post. I am so sorry for your loss.

Would you mind if I ask which stage she was in when first diagnosed and how long she had since then?

As for my dad, the operation was inevitable because he coudn't eat solid food at all. After the surgery he is actually eating better.  

I understand chemo is horrendous and in some cases (like my dad's) it doesnt buy a lot more time hence the hesistation. 

Thank you for sharing.

Toby

Hi, she wasn't well for a while no energy and lethargic. She went to doctors a few times was giving her tonics etc. Then one day she collapsed at home when the ambulance arrived she had less than her lifes blood. She got blue lighted to hospital was in 2 weeks thats when they found it.  She needed to have 3 bouts of chemo before operation. Had it, few weeks to recoverthen needed further chemo. She didnt manage to have it all cos she was too ill with it lost over 4 stone. She lasted 6 weeks in hospice it was horrendous. 18 months in total from finding out. Hope this has helped you abit Toby. 

Debbie     

Hi Toby,

I'm so sorry to hear about your father's diagnosis. I found out recently that this is the cancer my mother was diagnosed with. She was 41 at the time of her diagnosis and she decided against any treatment as she was already in the late stages of her diagnosis. I wish you and your family all the best. 
 

Jacqueline 

Hi Jacqueline,

Thank you so much for responding. Only if its appropriate would you mind sharing your mother's experience after she'd decided against any treatments? 

Thank you

Toby

Hi Toby,

Unfortunately for my mum she only lived about 7 weeks after her diagnosis. She was diagnosed at stage 5 and it had already spread to her pancreas and her liver. Her main cause of death wasn't the cancer though, she has an infection that went to her bloodstream and died of sepsis. This was in 2003 and I'm sure there have been many advancements since then. She was given a life expectancy of 6 months with no treatment and 1-2 years with treatment. It just happened so fast but we left the decision on what treatment she wanted to her. 

Sorry meant stage 4.