Stage 4 Gastric Cancer: 16 Real Stories
16 stories match gastric cancer and stage 4. 10 of them mention chemotherapy.
Stage IV Gastric Cancer: Derek’s Patient Story
An emergency physician and Pain Medicine Fellow in upstate New York was diagnosed with Stage IV stomach cancer in July 2024. Treatment began locally, but he sought second opinions from several institutions before deciding to enroll in a clinical trial at UT…
Read this storyStage IV Gastric Adenocarcinoma: Derek’s Survivor Story
Derek Cooney, an emergency physician, was 48 when difficulty eating and drinking led to testing and a diagnosis of diffuse gastric adenocarcinoma. A laparoscopy showed that the cancer had spread to his peritoneum, making it Stage IV. Derek began with 8 rounds…
Read this storyStage IV Gastric Cancer: Mark’s Patient Story
Mark Scragg knew cancer risk ran in his family after he and several relatives learned they had Lynch syndrome. In May 2021, persistent fatigue and stomach pain led him to move up his yearly endoscopy and colonoscopy. Doctors found a stomach tumor, and…
Read this storyStage IV Gastric Adenocarcinoma: Angel’s Survivor Story
Angel had months of heartburn, reflux, bloating and feeling full quickly before seeking medical care. Over-the-counter medicines had seemed enough at first, but further evaluation in December 2023 led to a diagnosis of Stage IV stomach cancer, specifically…
Read this storyStage IV Gastric Cancer: Rachel’s Patient Story
Rachel Orth was 33 with three young children when surgery for what doctors thought was a benign ovarian mass revealed cancer in December 2020. She later learned that she had metastatic gastric cancer. The diagnosis came during the COVID-19 pandemic, adding…
Read this storyStage IV Gastric Adenocarcinoma: Doran’s Patient Story
Doran Barro was a healthy, active 75-year-old woman living in Arizona when she began feeling acid reflux, early fullness after only a few bites, nausea, and a tightening sensation in her stomach in March 2014. After repeated testing, she was diagnosed on May…
Read this storyStage IV Gastric Cancer: Ernie’s Patient Story
Ernie Pierce was 62 when an operation expected to remove his gallbladder instead revealed Stage IV gastric cancer on March 31, 2008. He had spent almost a year seeking answers for early fullness, worsening discomfort, pain, and significant weight loss, but…
Read this storyStage IV Gastric Cancer: Jeanne’s Patient Story
Jeanne Guercia had recently turned 70 when her daughter shared her story. Jeanne had taught English at Chalmette High School for many years and had expected to continue teaching, but stomach cancer forced her to retire. For more than 6 months, she had…
Read this storyStage IV Gastric Cancer: Buddy’s Patient Story
Shortly after turning 72, Buddy began having serious difficulty eating and increasing fatigue. In July, he was diagnosed with cancer at the gastroesophageal junction, where the stomach and esophagus meet. The disease was Stage IV and had spread to an adrenal…
Read this storyStage IV Gastric Cancer: Karen’s Patient Story
Karen Lucas began having difficulty eating and losing weight while recovering from shingles in 2012. When the problems worsened, her family encouraged her to have an endoscopy. A mass was found at the gastroesophageal junction, and she was diagnosed with…
Read this storyStage IV Gastric Cancer: Patricia’s Patient Story
Patricia Etienne was diagnosed with Stage IV gastric cancer in June 2020 at age 59. She had considered herself healthy, worked as a group fitness instructor, and had no underlying conditions. The diagnosis initially left her fearful and defeated. Over the…
Read this storyStage IV HER2-Positive Gastric Cancer: Bryan’s Patient Story
Bryan Chagolla was 38 when worsening abdominal pain, loss of appetite, heartburn, and nearly 40 pounds of weight loss led him to the emergency room in 2019. A biopsy confirmed Stage IV gastric, or stomach, cancer. The cancer was HER2-positive and had spread…
Read this storyStage IV Gastric Cancer: Faye’s Patient Story
Faye Hood was 70 and training for a half-marathon in 2017 when she was diagnosed with Stage IV stomach cancer. She had noticed bloating and bowel changes but initially thought they were part of getting older. After deciding to seek care at MD Anderson, an…
Read this storyStage IV Gastric Cancer: Rick’s Patient Story
Rick Sabbides was diagnosed on June 25, 2013, with inoperable Stage IV cancer involving both the stomach and colon. A CaringBridge journal was created so Rick’s friends and family could follow his journey, offer support, and share messages of hope and…
Read this storyStage IV Gastric Cancer Patient Story
A 56-year-old woman was diagnosed with Stage IV stomach cancer in December 2012. Her 2 daughters, who described themselves as sisters and best friends, began writing about how the diagnosis changed their family. They used journaling and notes to communicate…
Read this storyStage IV Gastric Cancer Patient Story
The narrator’s mother was diagnosed with Stage IV gastric cancer. Two months later, her daughter became pregnant and took on an intensive caregiver and advocacy role while continuing to work. Her mother received chemotherapy and needed help with medications…
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