My lovely mother, 72, has just been diagnosed with stomach cancer, we are wondering whether to go for a second opinion?? Or are we just clutching at straws??.
She had been ill with some symptoms for several weeks, visited the doctor who said she'd lost weight and referred for endo/ct. She was almost not eating anything at all by the date of the endo which was last week, about 7 weeks after and had lost more weight.
She had the endo, where they found an outlet obstruction, and took biopsy, then in the week waiting for biopsy back and having CT she became very weak, collapsed and was ambulanced into A&E.
This collapse turned out to be from severe anemia caused by a bleed created when the biopsy was taken and she had not told us she had started passing blood, they told us she would have not seen the weekend had she not come in that day.
She had bloods and fluids and the CT that night. They confirmed the following day it was cancer at the outlet and told her good news, it looks like its been found early, there was no sign of mets on the ct, and the plan was to operate for partial gastrectomy next week, followed by chemo.
She had an exploratory laparoscopy the next day, and they confirmed they could see no sign of any mets in any organs, and it was still plan A, get it out next week.
Then the next day they phoned us to go up asap. We went in and were taken aside with the consultant who said a saline swill taken during the laparoscopy came back positive for cells and there was some spotting on the peritoneum, the cells are currently dormant but will become active. Due to this its now classed as stage 4 and the operation was now off the table, and they are now only offering a stent and chemo.
The life drained out of her face there and then!! All week they had been telling her it was operable and she would make it, and now suddenly she's told she is dying!!
But we cant help feel that as its not spread to any other organs other than just some dormant cells in the peritoneum, that surgery should at least still be a viable option to at least consider for the main mass, and tackle those cells with chemo??
She is old and currently weak from malnutrition but has been on liquid food in the neck for five days and currently looks much stronger, she is now up and walking about and her blood is steady, and we know its a very big major op, but surely its worth considering due to organs being clear??
But as far as they are concerned its stage 4 so no surgery end of, and say they are concerned about her recovery from surgery anyway due to being so elderly and weak from not eating!!
They said if it would cure its worth the risk, but it wont change the outcome, so they don't see the risk being worth it. She says she would just rather be home with us than months recovering in there, and has accepted their decision.
Should we consider getting a second opinion or just face facts??
