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T4N3H stomach cancer

lynnc
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Hi

my brother was diagnosed with advanced stomach cancer. They say he can have palliative chemo but it just seems to be taking forever for them to do anything. He's sees an oncologist next Tuesday for a consultation I wonder how long after that the chemo will start? Has anyone got any advice?

Lynn

  • Hi lynnc, 

    Welcome to the forum although I'm sorry to hear about your brother's diagnosis.

    Sometimes the waiting can seem like forever and can be so tough as many of our members know and hopefully they will be along soon to share their advice and experiences with you.

    Are you going with your brother to his appointment next Tuesday? If so, maybe you could ask then how long after the consultation they think the chemo will start? Also, if you are based in the UK you can chat to our specialist cancer nurses for free on the following number: 0808 800 4040. They are available Monday - Friday between 9a.m - 5p.m and might be able to answer any other questions you may have as well.

    I hope your brother's appointment with the oncologist goes well on Tuesday. Do come back and let us know how he gets on. 

    Wishing you both all the very best, 

    Steph, Cancer Chat Moderator

  • Offline in reply to Moderator Steph

    Hi Steph

    Many thanks for your reply. Will let you know how he gets on. I just hope they will offer some treatment as it's his last hope and he is being so positive. But he's getting weaker & only weighs 7st 4lbs and the fatigue is terrible . I thought they might of put him on a feeding tube or something to help build him up a bit.

    anyway we'll see how it goes.

    best wishes

    lynn

  • Offline

    Lynn,

    For what it is worth, I have a similar cancer (T3N3M1 mine is at the junction of my oesophagus and stomach) and started chemo the week after my first appointment with the oncologist, this seems to be fairly typical across the English NHS. The waiting does seem to take forever. 


    Good luck to you and your brother
    Dave

     

  • Offline in reply to davek

    Hi Dave

    Nice to hear from you I hope things are going well with your treatment. How have you been feeling? Hope my brother has better news after seeing the oncologist.

    BW

    Lynn

     

  • Offline in reply to davek

    Hi Dave
    My brother went to see the oncologist today it wasn't good news we wanted. They have said he has around 3-6 months left to live and chemo is not recommended as it could not prolong his life and would make him feel worse. My brother says he's going nowhere for 2 years!! And wants to try the chemo. One doctor says one thing & the other gives no hope who sounds like she didn't even read his notes!

    Any advice anyone?? 

    Lynn

  • Offline in reply to lynnc

    Hi Lynn,

    I've been incredibly lucky and haven't had any treatment for cancer since I finished my chemo in January 2014. This has been a complete but welcome surprise and one which I don't take for granted. Apart from the cancer, I'm now generally physically fit and well. I just hope that my luck holds out a little longer.

    I have regular CT scans to check whether my cancers have started growing again (as they almost certainly will). My oncologist can't explain why the chemo had the effect it had, she said it was only supposed to slow its growth, not shrink it and make it dormant. 

    Sorry to hear that your brother's news wasn't good. I can't really advise him what to do, whatever he decides it needs to be his choice, but if one option offers only slim hope and the other none at all there seems to be nothing to lose by taking the first option. When I made my choice, I told myself that having chemo was like buying a lottery ticket as I knew the chances of winning were low but that if I didn't buy a ticket I could guarantee that I couldn't win.

    More often than not the favourites win a race or a match, but enough complete outsiders win the race or the Premier League title to give us some hope in our lives. 

    Best wishes

    Dave

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