Gastric Cancer: Sandra's Patient Story
This gastric cancer diagnosis at a glance
- Biomarkers
- CDH1 mutation
- Sex
- Female
- Treatment
- surgery and chemotherapy
- Outcome
- In Memory
Treatment course, step by step
- Sandra underwent total gastrectomy on February 18, 2011.
- She then received chemotherapy, which was ongoing when she first shared her story.
What happened, in summary
Sandra Sankar Poukkula was diagnosed with gastric cancer at age 39. Genetic testing identified a CDH1 mutation inherited from her father. Her brother had previously died from gastric cancer at age 37, giving the diagnosis a strong family context.
Sandra underwent total gastrectomy on February 18, 2011. She then received chemotherapy and hoped to return to her previous activities after treatment. She also created a website to document her experience and help other people understand hereditary stomach cancer.
Sandra died from stomach cancer on January 13, 2012, at age 39, just over a year after diagnosis. Her family remembered her as a loving and generous woman who was determined to make a difference for others facing the disease.
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