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Suggest Treatment Regime For Stomach Cancer
Question: My father-in-law lives in the Ukraine and was diagnosed with stomach cancer last year; gastric carcinoma. He is being treated in a private clinic (LISOD in Kiev) He underwent surgery preceded by 4 sessions of chemo treatment. Remove about 75% of stomach. Margins were clear and all the lymph nodes clear. Prognosis was excellent. Subsequently (about 6 weeks) he developed fluid around his stomach;” ascitic fluid with reactive mesothelioma an abnormal epithelial: peritoneal Involvement by the previously diagnosed gastric carcinoma.”
We are now told that his changes of survival beyond 9-12 months is less than 25%. The are suggesting 4 sessions (every two weeks) of strong chemo treatment to try to stem the advance.
Is this the only course of action? We are self-paying, does this treatment make sense?
I understand that it may be difficult to assess this case with this limited information. I appreciate any help. If there is a way to get a second opinion from a trained oncologist here in the US, I will pay for that consultation
Thank you
Clint
We are now told that his changes of survival beyond 9-12 months is less than 25%. The are suggesting 4 sessions (every two weeks) of strong chemo treatment to try to stem the advance.
Is this the only course of action? We are self-paying, does this treatment make sense?
I understand that it may be difficult to assess this case with this limited information. I appreciate any help. If there is a way to get a second opinion from a trained oncologist here in the US, I will pay for that consultation
Thank you
Clint
Brief Answer:
The treatment plan appears fine
Detailed Answer:
Hi
Thanks for your query.
Your father-in-law had a gastric cancer which has unfortunately recurred after chemo and surgery. This is not an uncommon scenario. Even in gastric cancers which are apparently localized at the beginning, 30-40% would eventually recur.
Now that peritoneal spread is there, palliative chemo is the only option. I can't say what his oncologist has meant by strong chemo but we use drugs like docetaxel, capecitabine, 5FU, oxalipatin, cisplatin, etc.
This produces no great results but extends survival by few months. The average survival is 9-12 months, as rightly mentioned. You can certainly get all the records and take a second opinion from a qualified oncologist near to you.
Hope this helps
Regards
The treatment plan appears fine
Detailed Answer:
Hi
Thanks for your query.
Your father-in-law had a gastric cancer which has unfortunately recurred after chemo and surgery. This is not an uncommon scenario. Even in gastric cancers which are apparently localized at the beginning, 30-40% would eventually recur.
Now that peritoneal spread is there, palliative chemo is the only option. I can't say what his oncologist has meant by strong chemo but we use drugs like docetaxel, capecitabine, 5FU, oxalipatin, cisplatin, etc.
This produces no great results but extends survival by few months. The average survival is 9-12 months, as rightly mentioned. You can certainly get all the records and take a second opinion from a qualified oncologist near to you.
Hope this helps
Regards
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Yogesh D
Not sure I completely understand. I understand that there is no mastastisis and his stomach and lymphnodes do not have a recurrance of cancer.....what will happen to him? Does he slowly decline; organs shut down? What can we expect and how do we manage his declining health? He has had two sessions if chemo...and he feels great. What is the likely course of we stop the chemo treatmments (two more scheduled two weeks apart). We are trying to understand what will happen to him if the chemo cannot put him into remission. Thank you for your help. It is difficult to understand what is happening in the Ukraine clinic. Best regards, clint
Brief Answer:
no, there are metastases
Detailed Answer:
I am sorry if I was not clear. Actually there ARE metastases. The peritoneal spread denotes metastases. Even though stomach and lymph nodes may be clear.
So chemo tries to control it as long as possible. But even after chemo, disease will eventually start growing, as it would become resistant to chemo. If you stop now, maybe it will start growing sooner.
When disease increases, there may be accumulation of fluid in abdomen, low appetite, general health goes down and organs would shut down. Unfortunately there is no cure as of now, for metastatic stomach cancer.
For now, you should provide him hood diet and psychological support so that he can withstand the chemo.
no, there are metastases
Detailed Answer:
I am sorry if I was not clear. Actually there ARE metastases. The peritoneal spread denotes metastases. Even though stomach and lymph nodes may be clear.
So chemo tries to control it as long as possible. But even after chemo, disease will eventually start growing, as it would become resistant to chemo. If you stop now, maybe it will start growing sooner.
When disease increases, there may be accumulation of fluid in abdomen, low appetite, general health goes down and organs would shut down. Unfortunately there is no cure as of now, for metastatic stomach cancer.
For now, you should provide him hood diet and psychological support so that he can withstand the chemo.
Note: For further queries related to kidney problems Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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