Well welcome to our little chat room... any questions you have, there's usually someone who will be able to help ... you sound like a wonderful caring daughter ...
I was diagnosed with stomach cancer in August last year and since then have had 4 cycles of FLOT followed by a total gastrectomy in January and have just had my first cycle of post op FLOT with up to 3 more to follow.
It’s a tough journey but I’m here and lucky to be in n a curative path and technically since my op which was a success I am cancer free, I’ve spoken with many people online who have also had gastric cancer and are living relatively normal lives without stomachs.
Feel free to ask me any questions, I know it’s a scary time
Hi Mikeswife thanks for your reply so glad to hear your doing well....it’s been a huge shock to us was only diagnosed in February and everything is moving so fast haven’t had time to think ... Im all she’s got ... mum starts chemo on Wednesday she’s very nervous of the side effects and being ill as she hasn’t been ill at all with the cancer ... so good to read your positive story
Bless you both, things do move very quickly but once treatment begins it does start to settle. Just remember with chemo not everyone has the same side affects, I’ve a friend who is tolerating it much better than me. Speak to her nurses about anything she is suffering with, her GO can prescribe different anti sickness tablets, I take up to 3 different ones. Get her a baby toothbrush and ask GP for difflam mouthwash to avoid any mouth sores, I also use biotene toothpaste as it’s good for a dry mouth. Make sure she drinks lots to flush the chemo out, 2-3 litres a day and get a good thermometer as it’s important to monitor her temperature. I too wasn’t sick until I started treatment but at the end of chemo I did start to feel better quickly. Surgery was not as bad as I expected, I was up and about within a day and home after 8 days, it was difficult living on a puréed diet for a few weeks but the body starts adapting to the new plumbing quickly and after about 6 weeks things became easier.
A website for great advice is the oesophageal Patients Association, it’s for people with gastric cancer also, lots of downloads available with info on life after treatment. Also the Macmillan forum for stomach cancer is good for speaking to people who have had or are going through treatment.
Good luck to your mum next week, she will be fine with you by her side, our loved ones make it all worthwhile.
Thankyou for replying and for all your knowledge it’s so good to hear some positivity in this situation I’ve noted all your advice, I’m so glad your doing well it’s great news ...... did you have all your stomach removed?
