Topic: Newly Diagnosed
Hi! My name is Jayne and my husband, Ken (57) was diagnosed with CC in January 2013. This process began the week of Thanksgiving 2012 with a possible diagnosis of Lymphoma. After two endoscopic biopsies of a gastric lymph node as well as one on the periportal, the results indicated that lyphoma was not the proper diagnosis and further tests/procedures needed to occur to find the original source of the cancer. What we did know at that point was that it was already in an advanced stage although he was not having any symptoms. A third endoscopic biopsy was performed on the pancreas (no tumors in the pancreas), a colonoscopy (negative), and another MRI of the abdomen (liver, kidneys, bladder), his case was shared with the Pathology Board at The Ohio State University, The James Cancer Hospital. Finally, we received the diagnosis of CC Stage 4 and was referred to Dr. Wu, oncologist at The James.
Ken has had his first chemo treatment two weeks ago and tolerated it very well. They were only able to give him gemcitabine because the other drug (I believe is cisplaten) causes tinitis which he already has. They have requested insurance approval of something else (not sure what yet) and we are hoping it will be approved and available for his second chemo treatment this Tuesday (2/12).
I have so many questions in my head which I try to get down on paper. I did ask the doctor, the first time we met, what life expectancy is for this cancer and she hesitantly said average is 1 year. At that point, my brain shut down and I couldn't ask another question. My first question is, is 1 year with chemo or without?
My husband could not have surgery first due to the lymph node involvement. My second question is, can he ever have surgery? I've read your discussion boards and many people have commented that the only way to get a "cure" is to have surgery.
I am thankful I found this website and hope that in the days ahead I can get information from all of you out there who are also dealing with this horrible disease. I have one really stupid question for anyone or everyone dealing with this: (Brace yourself) Did any of you drink a lot of milk plus eat a lot of dairy prior to getting this diagnosis?
Living one day at a time!
Jayne