Gastric Cancer: Amanda's Survivor Story

What happened, in summary

Amanda knew that a CDH1 gene mutation ran in the family and increased the risk of both hereditary diffuse gastric cancer and breast cancer. Amanda’s mother had breast cancer, while a sister and brother had gastric cancer. After testing positive for the familial CDH1 deletion, Amanda chose preventive surgery because of that inherited risk.

A prophylactic total gastrectomy was performed, and gastric cancer was found only when the removed stomach was examined afterward. Amanda also underwent a double mastectomy, where breast cancer was likewise found on pathology; that breast cancer is handled as a separate cancer journey.

Life after gastrectomy required major adjustment. Over more than 7 years, Amanda underwent additional procedures and repeated endoscopies to manage difficulty getting food to pass normally after surgery. The lasting effects contributed to leaving work and learning a new way of living without a stomach. Amanda described taking life day by day, relying on family, friends, support groups, and therapy. Despite ongoing physical and emotional challenges, Amanda said all of the cancer had been removed and remained optimistic about being alive.