Gastric Cancer: Rosie's Patient Story
This gastric cancer diagnosis at a glance
- Treatment
- surgery and chemotherapy
- Outcome
- Responding Well
Treatment course, step by step
- Rosie underwent total gastrectomy in July 2004.
- She then completed 6 months of chemotherapy.
What happened, in summary
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 signet ring cell gastric cancer with linitis plastica.
Rosie then completed 6 months of chemotherapy. Recovery required learning how to eat without a stomach and managing dumping syndrome, vitamin and iron deficiencies, and food intolerances.
As she approached 5 years after surgery, Rosie began building support networks for other patients and caregivers. She started a Facebook group in 2009, brought stomach-cancer awareness walks to Italy, and wrote a book about her experience. She later celebrated the 17th anniversary of her total gastrectomy and continued offering hope to others.
Where this story comes from
This is a lay summary of an account first published by No Stomach For Cancer. Read the original in full
How we source and attribute stories Accuracy and limitations
These are lay summaries of published cancer stories, for information only. No two cancers behave the same way, and nothing here predicts your own diagnosis or replaces advice from your oncology team. Read the full disclaimer