Surgery for Gastric Cancer: 46 Real Stories
46 stories match gastric cancer and surgery. 32 of them mention gastrectomy.
Stage III Gastric Cancer: Alina’s Survivor Story
Alina described feeling frightened, nervous, and worried after learning about a Stage III gastric cancer diagnosis. The experience also brought disbelief, resentment, and periods of emotional numbness. After diagnosis, Alina began eating more healthfully and…
Read this storyStage I Gastric Cancer: Allen’s Patient Story
Allen Wang sought medical care in 2008 after noticing an unusual feeling in his stomach. An endoscopy and biopsy showed stomach cancer. A community surgeon recommended removing about two-thirds of his stomach through a large incision, but Allen wanted a…
Read this storyGastric Cancer: Christopher’s Survivor Story
Christopher Lynch was 51 when a headache, vomiting, difficulty eating, and balance problems led him to seek care in early 2016. An endoscopic procedure found stomach cancer, and an MRI then showed a large, deep tumor in his left cerebellum. The brain tumor…
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 I Gastric Cancer: Sarah’s Survivor Story
At 25, this patient learned through genetic testing that they carried a CDH1 mutation, which substantially increased the risk of stomach cancer. Because stomach cancer can be difficult to detect early in people with this mutation, they chose a preventive…
Read this storyStage II Gastric Cancer: Irasema’s Survivor Story
Irasema Partida Chavez was 34 when months of heartburn, indigestion, nausea, fatigue, and weight loss eventually led to an endoscopy in 2015. Biopsies showed stomach cancer. She underwent a partial gastrectomy that removed 80% of her stomach, and surgery…
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 II Gastric Adenocarcinoma: Cece’s Survivor Story
Cece, a former nurse in Ireland, noticed one new symptom: difficulty swallowing. Because Cece was very fit and felt the symptom was unusual, medical evaluation followed quickly. In September 2023, Cece was diagnosed with Stage II stomach cancer, specifically…
Read this storyStage II Gastric Cancer: Sagan’s Patient Story
Sagan was evaluated after digestive symptoms led to blood testing and an endoscopy, where doctors found a stomach mass. MRI was also used to assess whether the cancer had spread. The eventual diagnosis was Stage II stomach cancer. Sagan already lived with a…
Read this storyGastric Cancer: Daniel’s Patient Story
Daniel ‘Joe’ Einspahr noticed a persistent sensation of hunger in 2018 that did not improve after eating. An endoscopy showed stomach cancer, interrupting a multi-year cross-country bicycle trip he had been completing with his son. Joe received 3 rounds of…
Read this storyGastric Cancer: Chad’s Patient Story
Chad White learned that he had hereditary stomach cancer and was strongly advised to have his stomach removed. He underwent total gastrectomy on January 25, 2010. Examination showed that cancer had already begun in the stomach wall. Adjusting to life without…
Read this storyGastric Cancer Patient Story
Mr. Knight was diagnosed with stomach cancer on May 21, 2014, at age 62. One week later, on May 28, he underwent surgery to remove his stomach. He began chemotherapy and radiation on August 13 and completed 5 weeks of combined treatment. The course was…
Read this storyGastric Cancer: Sundar’s Survivor Story
Sundar Matpadi was diagnosed with stomach cancer in August 2012 at age 46. Sundar underwent total gastrectomy the following month, followed by 92 days of oral chemotherapy and 30 days of radiation. Treatment ended in May 2013. The treatment and recovery…
Read this storyGastric Adenocarcinoma: Alan’s Patient Story
Alan Gorman was diagnosed with signet cell adenocarcinoma of the stomach in March 2014 at age 50. Symptoms had begun about 7 months earlier with chest pain. Initial X-rays and blood tests appeared normal, and acid-reflux treatment was started. As the symptoms…
Read this storyGastric Cancer: Bob’s Survivor Story
Bob Ward was diagnosed with stomach cancer at an early stage and underwent total gastrectomy. A little more than 2 years after surgery, he reported being cancer-free. Recovery remained difficult. Bob struggled with eating and drinking, nausea, and maintaining…
Read this storyGastric Cancer: Dan’s Patient Story
Dan Kane pursued genetic testing after several relatives died from stomach cancer. The result confirmed a hereditary predisposition. Although at least 3 earlier endoscopies had not found cancer, evaluation after the genetic result led to a recommendation for…
Read this storyGastric Cancer Patient Story
Dan Kane’s sister was affected by gastric cancer within a family carrying hereditary stomach-cancer risk. She initially received advice to undergo only partial gastrectomy. The cancer later returned. She then underwent total gastrectomy, when the family…
Read this storyGastric Cancer: Rosie’s Patient Story
Rosie Rosanna Fiorino was 35 in 2004 when worsening digestive symptoms and inability to eat led to gastroscopy. The examination found a large mass, and she was hospitalized in July. She underwent total gastrectomy and later learned that the diagnosis was…
Read this storyStage II Gastric Cancer: Andy’s Patient Story
Andy had a family history of stomach cancer in a grandfather and uncle. A family doctor recommended genetic testing and an endoscopy, and the evaluation led to a diagnosis of Stage II gastric cancer. The diagnosis brought sadness, grief, and a sense of…
Read this storyStage II Gastric Cancer: Mawar’s Patient Story
Mawar sought medical help after persistent fatigue, heartburn and pain around the stomach or breastbone. The evaluation led to a diagnosis of Stage II stomach cancer. Following the doctor's recommendation, Mawar underwent a partial gastrectomy and also…
Read this storyStage II Gastric Cancer: Miguel’s Patient Story
Miguel, from the United States, saw a doctor after repeated digestive problems, a persistent stomach ache and unexplained weight loss. An endoscopy found an ulcer, and the evaluation led to a diagnosis of Stage II stomach cancer. Treatment started with…
Read this storyGastric Cancer: Emily’s Patient Story
In 2014, this patient learned at age 25 that they carried a CDH1 mutation associated with a high risk of stomach cancer. The initial plan was careful surveillance while the patient and a spouse considered starting a family. Two endoscopies showed no evidence…
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 III Gastric Cancer: Abdul’s Patient Story
Abdul had experienced stomach pain for years and often attributed it to fatigue from work. One day the pain became so severe that Abdul could barely stand, and a hospital visit led to a diagnosis of Stage III gastric cancer. The diagnosis brought fear…
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