Nearing the end of my third cycle. So its off for a CT scan and hopefully it has not spread. Then its farewell to my stomach and then 3 more cycles. Nervous but will be happy to have it gone! ... View more

Hi Phoenix74, Hope the surgery went well. Its a roller coaster ride. I was diagnosed on 5 November with gastric cancer. Mine has been described by my oncologist as "curious" as it does not show up on cat or petscans. Not quite "impressive"! I am 50 years old and it came out of the blue for me too. I hear your mood swings, it was a real bugger for me for the first 3 weeks but it settles down once treatment starts. Good luck with it all. Joffaboy ... View more

Hi Ros, Second cycle of chemo has been tougher but I guess I used my reserves up first round. Glad to hear its working well for you. Yes Bob works well with the kids but the initials sum up how it makes me feel. Have a good christmas. Geoff ... View more

Hi Kathy, Started second cycle of chemo last Monday. Every third Monday they give me the E & the C. Its been a tiring but have returned to work part time. I am no longer needing to buy shampoo or shaving cream! Its managable as long as I have my nana naps! How are you going? Geoff ... View more

Hi Kathy, Started second cycle of chemo last Monday. Every third Monday they give me the E & the C. Its been a tiring but have returned to work part time. I am no longer needing to buy shampoo or shaving cream! Its managable as long as I have my nana naps! How are you going? Geoff ... View more

Kim, Thanks for the post. Yes I am settling into a routine. I have my next BIG MONDAY next week which is timing as I have my oldest sons 7yo birthday party this weekend! I have just started back at work but on reduced hours (and responsibility) which has been good to focus on "normal" things. Saw my oncologist on Tuesday and my cytoplasmic wash came back all negative which is a bit of a relief but then he brought me back to earth with its all really going to depend on the ECF and its effect on my "curious" tumor. So the gastric resection is booked in for the first week in Feb and all will be revealed then. So thanks again. If you don't fight you lose so keep punching! cheers Geoff aka Joffaboy ... View more

Hi Kathy,sounds like we both copped the wrong side of the karma bus but I am heartened by your experienced as per Carboplatin and 5FU. I have just completed my first week and 2 of the days (4 &5) were horrible but the rest tolerable. Just trying to get used to the fatigue thing. Its hard to explain to 3 young kids why daddy can't do certain things. I would love to keep in touch. Geoff (Joffaboy) ... View more

CC, it does consume all your thoughts. Especially with a young family. Our three kids are all similar ages. My wife struggles at time and is trying to stay extremely positive. My worst days were when there were no tests going on but I discovered that behind the scenes they are frantically looking at the "staging" of the cancer and get the best minds to look and discuss. Yes mine is operable but it will be a full gastric resection but that is to increase the life expectancy rather than have a partial stomach which would be riskier in my case. My oncologist is supposedly one of the worlds best for oesophageal/gastric cancers. The first thing he told me was the stats are dominated by men a lot older and unable to tolerate big doses of chemo. Mine is an "unusual type of gastric cancer" but is most likely genetic as only people with blood type A tend to get it. Yes said I am very much at the young side having just turned 50 so your husband is a baby. So he said his believe is the stats are much more promising for us young people starting the journey. Once i started treatment, its been a bit of a relief as in my mind the fightback has started. Also having ECF means you get a day every three weeks when you sit in the chair for 8 -9 hours and bombard you with the E & C chemo drugs and then flush you out. One of the men I did education with is suffering oesophageal cancer and he is also on the ECF regime. AT then end of the day they hook up you pump for 5 FU and you wear it 24/7 for the next three weeks with 2 pump changes. We call mine BOB (Bottle of Brew) but like the builder called Bob, our kids have been told "Can Bob fix it, Yes he Can!" Keep in touch. Happy to help or just lend an ear/eyes. We are Victorians who live in Melbourne but the old family farm is up in Northern NSW near Inverell. ... View more

I have strated my chemo ECF. Have the 24/7 pump attached. When I visited my oncologist he told me my petscan was clear including the gastric cancer. It would seem my cancer grows at the same rate as normal cells so we have lost one of the better tools to see if it has spread. Very frustrating! Has this happened to anyone else. To Quote Pink Floyd, IS THERE ANYBODY OUT THERE! ... View more

Got to remain positive. Don't let it beat you. ... View more