Another late comer or were we?!
I operated on a 67year old lady yesterday. She is a very nice and friendly lady with very caring children. She had upper abdominal pain which started 2 years ago. She saw a general practitioner who did some blood test, told her she had gastritis ( everybody’s favourite diagnosis for any upper abdominal pain or discomfort), and this was because of H.pylori infection detected in her blood. He started her on medications. She was the same medications for two years despite her symptoms not resolving and being persistently worse.. He only decided to refer her to us when she started complaining of difficulty in swallowing and feels that her solid food gets stuck at the upper abdomen(epigastrium).
This was what we saw on endoscopy:
It was a large growth arising from the junction of the esophagus and stomach and extending down into the stomach for at least 10cm. It was what we call as Cancer of the Cardia or simply Stomach Cancer.
Her CT scan did not show any distant spread but CTscan in stomach and esophageal cancers are not accurate.
Upon surgery, the tumour was found to be advanced with many lymph nodes involved and also seedling along the small bowel and peritoneum(layer around inside of the abdomen). This was no more a curative surgery but mainly just palliative.
Was she late? Well, either she refused to have a scope done and took her symptoms lightly or she was not been appropriately counselled and adviced to get a scope done. She claims that the general practitioner never suggested anything as such!!!
I am speechless.
May 1st, 2007 at 9:05 pm
George, I am speechless too. Though I know she is in the advance stage but what is the prognosis in this case? She is still so young.
May 1st, 2007 at 10:40 pm
Fewer than 1 in 20 people (5%) live for at least 5 years if they have stage 4 stomach cancer. Most of them will die in the first two years from diagnosis.
I saw her first 2 weeks ago. She appears to be a very strong person. Hopefully she pulls through the recovery from surgery and is fit enough for chemotheraphy. It may increase her chances slightly.
May 2nd, 2007 at 2:37 am
Hi Judy thanks for dropping by. Haven’t heard from you for quite a while.
May 4th, 2007 at 12:12 pm
Very serious & painful condition. I think it is advanced cancer.
May 4th, 2007 at 5:21 pm
Yes mom, it is advanced.
She is very motivated and presently is doing well. Removed all her tubings and allowed her clear fluids. Hope she goes on well.
May 9th, 2007 at 4:43 pm
Holy cow! The photos are impressive. She says her doctor never told her to get a scope - did she say why she didn’t pursue other options when the pain didn’t get any better after two years?
I can see not scoping right off the bat, but if the symptoms never abate surely it’s time for further testing!
May 9th, 2007 at 5:27 pm
There is another story to this. It seems she was harboring her pain and got her children to buy the medications off the counter. Strange bit possible.
March 19th, 2008 at 9:34 pm
Nice website!!