Stage II Gastric Adenocarcinoma: Cece's Survivor Story
This gastric cancer diagnosis at a glance
- Stage at diagnosis
- Stage II
- Subtype
- Adenocarcinoma
- Treatment
- surgery
- Outcome
- Cancer-Free / NED
Treatment course, step by step
- Underwent a total gastrectomy with lymph node removal.
- No chemotherapy or further anticancer treatment was required.
What happened, in summary
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 gastric adenocarcinoma. Cece later described being 45 while adjusting to life after treatment.
Treatment involved a total gastrectomy and lymph node removal. No chemotherapy or further anticancer treatment was required. Cece reported being cancer-free from April 2024, but the effects of surgery were substantial. Nausea persisted around the clock for more than 6 months, accompanied by weight and muscle loss, poor appetite, malabsorption, fatigue and dumping syndrome. Eating changed completely, with very small meals needed every 1.5 to 2 hours.
The physical changes also affected mental health and quality of life. Cece sought support from a local cancer centre and psycho-oncology services while coping with anxiety and fear of recurrence. Plans included returning to work gradually. Cece emphasized taking recovery day by day, preparing food carefully, asking for help and appreciating small parts of everyday life.
Where this story comes from
This is a lay summary of an account first published by Our Cancer Stories. 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