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[B'z-chan]

I ask cause yesterday i had a life changing even happen. While having some bleeding ulcers repaired. Had i gone longer my doctor told me that my stomach could just open one day and i would basically die. So while they were doing this my doctor find something that scared him. Enough that they got another doctor in there while they were fixing me up. To take biopsy's of the tumor's which were spread all over my stomach.

Here is a picture of the areas in which are in question:

I'm a little freaked cause right after they did this surgery another doctor removed almost 7 1/2 pounds of gullstones from my bladder. I thought that they did this all with a laser but unfortunatly for me they didnt i guess.

So i come too after almost 8-10 hours of being knocked out. I get told that they found this cancer and that they dont know what stage it was but that they wont be certain till they send off the biopsy's to several labs out of california for verification. I got to talk with a nurse and all i know is that she looked at me like death.

My other doctor comes in and tells me that it looked like i was advancing into stage 2 cancer of the stomach and esophagus.

I'm a little worried i get to go through another EGD next week. So that this cancer doctor can look around a little more, take more biopsy's if needed.

I'm a little freaked out, i'm hoping that if they put me on these beads that it could kill the cancer. But i dont know.

Anyone know what they do from here and how bad i'm gonna get sicker to kill the cancer?

On a side note i've got to take home a bunch of stones so many i could line the bottom of a fish tank =P

=/

 

[cvxfreak]

Oh man, I'm sorry to hear that. I really hope you get better. I can't imagine having an illness so life threatening. =/

 

[B'z-chan]

You and me both CVXFREAK... =/ Hell and i'm only 19 years of young age too. Not to mention i cant eat anything for 72 hours =(

I hear though that they have made some advancements in recent years so i've got a good chance of survival, but my esophagus was punctured by a one of the tumors but they say that they removed it and tried to fix it.

 

[Ferrio]

So were the ulcers caused by the cancer?

 

[Goreomedy]

Anyone know what they do from here and how bad i'm gonna get sicker to kill the cancer?

Hope for the best.

And this might sound insensitive... but it could be a matter of life and death... WHY THE FUCK are you asking this message board these questions when you should have had a long conversation with an oncologist? Go back to the doctor ASAP and don't leave his office until you know exactly what you're facing.

 

[Makura]

You're in my prayers man, hang in there.

 

[B'z-chan]

So were the ulcers caused by the cancer?

No the ulcers were caused by my Acid Reflux and stress. At least thats what my doctor told me. I dont think the cancer is caused by any of those things, but if it can be caused by stress. That would be scary.

I personaly have had ulcers for 8 years now. And i thought that they went away that was till about 2 1/2 years ago stress started to cause my acid reflux to come back. Its been hell for the past 8 months of my life with a bunch of stuff going on. And this finally just gotten taken care of only to find out that i have freaking cancer.

My esophagus looks like a 90 year olds and my stomach looks like a punctured kidney bean. I have pictures (not in color) but if i can find my scanner i'll scan the pictures)

EDITGoreomedy i wanted to do just that but i was so out of it that they just wanted me to recover. But someone signed my release cause i'm at home now. I have a appointment on monday to meet with this new doctor and i think then i'll find out more. But i'm just asking for personal experiances of people, who know of or have gone through what i will be.

 

[Ferrio]

No the ulcers were caused by my Acid Reflux and stress. At least thats what my doctor told me. I dont think the cancer is caused by any of those things, but if it can be caused by stress. That would be scary.

I personaly have had ulcers for 8 years now. And i thought that they went away that was till about 2 1/2 years ago stress started to cause my acid reflux to come back. Its been hell for the past 8 months of my life with a bunch of stuff going on. And this finally just gotten taken care of only to find out that i have freaking cancer.

My esophagus looks like a 90 year olds and my stomach looks like a punctured kidney bean. I have pictures (not in color) but if i can find my scanner i'll scan the pictures)

Well you might have to thank those ulcers this time.

 

[Makura]

What is your diet like? Do you have a high-stress job?

 

[tedtropy]

That's the thing you've gotta love about cancer - sometimes it doesn't seem to care about age or any other factors. Seemingly healthy people could be harboring it for years. I've had instances of cancer on both sides of my family, and my mom has just now been given a clean bill of health from her several year bout with breast cancer. About three years ago doctors found a benign lump of something or other in me. They acted as though it was no big deal, meanwhile I'm thinking then why is there this thing inside me that otherwise shouldn't be? I have to kind of have to be on the lookout for moles or any other aberrations as it could be the start of something serious. Mostly I just try not to think of the whole thing, but really we should all likely be making more regular trips to the doctor for checkups. I'm sorry to hear about the experience you're going through, but thankfully you do have youth on your side, and hopefully it turns out to not be anywhere near as bad as I know you probably fear. I hope for the best for you, as I'm sure we all do.

 

[Goreomedy]

Goreomedy i wanted to do just that but i was so out of it that they just wanted me to recover. But someone signed my release cause i'm at home now. I have a appointment on monday to meet with this new doctor and i think then i'll find out more. But i'm just asking for personal experiances of people, who know of or have gone through what i will be.

Ah, I see. I've had several loved ones go through cancer treatments, but nothing involving oesophageal cancer. I'd recommend some on-line research at the very least.

 

[B'z-chan]

I've been researching today what they symptoms are and all that good stuff. I'm morbidly obese and try to keep to a low cal, low fat diet. I lost 30 pounds over the course of the first 6 months of the year, then gained at least 20 pounds within 2 months. Thats when i started to go to a digestive disease center to find out what was going on.

In my family there is a high risk of thyroid problems and they thought that i could just have it. But thats not the case. It was the body not being able to digest things properly. I get to go through a colonoscopy on 10-27-04. They are going to see if it spread into my colon and what not.

 

[Lonestar]

You're in my Prayers, and I hope everything turns out for the best, man.

Recently, my Dad's been having a few cat scans and such, and there's a chance his Cancer has come back (Non-Hodgekins Lymphoma). He's set to have a biopsy at Emory in Atlanta in 2 weeks or so.

He first had Cancer around 5-7 years ago (brought about by Agent Orange in Vietnam), went through the treatments and such, and came out alright. While being overwieght for 15-20 years (and not putting serious effort since to lose it), could lead to a relapse. He had his appendix removed back in March (emergency operation) and the scans of that lead into worry over something they picked up. But the strange thing is, his first time with cancer, it was centered on his Lymph nodes in his Upper Leg/Groin area, but now, they seem to be centered around his throat and broncital tubes.

Cancer sucks

 

[Lemurnator]

I am sorry Bz-Chan and I hope everything works out well for you.

My heart goes out to you.

 

[BuddyC]

Sorry to hear that bud. Hope everything works out for the best.

 

[Socreges]

First off, that's terrible. I'm sure you'll eventually be fine, but I wish you all the best.

Now, would they not have found the cancer if you hadn't gone in for the ulcer?

It was the body not being able to digest things properly.

That caused the cancer, you mean? Or the ulcers?

 

[Smiles and Cries]

I have a good friend who has been surviving cancer for 8 years now.
At first it was everywhere in her stomach... it is not easy but she keeps fighting.
The thing about her is I do not know where she gets the courage from.

It can be done, you can beat it. Hang in there man.

 

[White Man]

You're in my thoughts. Any idea how long until you get some news about this?

 

[B'z-chan]

Next week starting on Tuesday my doctors and i will be sitting down and talking about planing. I should find out for sure if i'm positive by friday of this upcoming week. I know it looks bad some of the meds and crap i'm gonna have to go through are gonna be hell. But maybe the plus is that i'll loose some weight and some hair from parts of my body. =P

Thanks guys/gals i'm hoping that they just try and nuke it quickly. So that i can recover quickly.

I know had the ulcer's and acid reflux not kept me up all night long that i would probably have not found out till i was so far along that there wouldnt be a option for me. I'm very greatful to at least have a fighting chance at it.

 

[clipunderground]

The power of GAF will protect you. Keep your chin up brotha.

 

[Panajev2001a]

I wish you good luck, I hope you will feel better and beat the cancer.

 

[way more]

Next week starting on Tuesday my doctors and i will be sitting down and talking about planing.

Be sure to mention group therapy as part of your recovery plan. Remember that is very important to get as much support as you can during this time, we're all here with you.

 

[robochimp]

You should know sooner than friday. I work in a Pathology Lab. When we get the specimen we try to have a diagnosis within 24 hours.

 

[yoshifumi]

good luck, hope you kick that cancer's ass. my great uncle just got diagnosed with stomach cancer. they caught it really early, but he still refused the surgery because he's old and afraid of medicine and pretty much signed his own death warrant.

you're too young for this bullshit, i'm sorry to hear all this.

 

[B'z-chan]

You should know sooner than friday. I work in a Pathology Lab. When we get the specimen we try to have a diagnosis within 24 hours.

Well thats a good thing to know then man. But do they work on weekends? =P i really would like to know now not later. But i'm thinking my doctors are just trying not to scare me or something as this is very sudden. I went in just thinking i had some reflux and ulcers.

[EDIT] question for robochimp why do they ship off more than one sample to several different labs? I honestly dont know why they cant just as easily find a place in my town.


I plan on seeking out a support group soon enough though.

 

[robochimp]

[EDIT] question for robochimp why do they ship off more than one sample to several different labs? I honestly dont know why they cant just as easily find a place in my town.

I cant really answer that. My lab serves an area 200 miles in radius which includes parts of two states. It really depends on how big your town is, Helathcare system politics, Which labs your insurance will cover. Who your doctor has a relationship with. Since there are ulcers involved I'm sure they're sending stuff out for Microbiology work too. But I dont really know

 

[Star Power]

Oh my, I'm so sorry to hear this. I hope that you can live through this, and beat the cancer.

 

[Gibbo]

Hope you pull through man. I'm praying for ya. Lost my grandpa to Cancer 2 year ago...He put up a hell of a fight though

 

[Dilbert]

Wow...I'm really sorry to hear that you're facing this challenge. All I can do is to send you my best wishes...and God will have to do the rest.

I'm very interested in hearing how this unfolds -- someone in my family also has GERD, and I worry about her health all the time. Since you are young, I think you have as good a chance as anyone of beating this thing. With any luck, the cancer will not have metastisized, and they can go after it aggressively.

 

[Seth C]

I still worry that I have cancer because I sometimes have some pain in my left testicle. I had it examined years ago, but the pain remains. It's not there all the time, just comes and goes. I dunno. I saw dozens of doctors. They did ultrasounds, x-rays, and prostate exams. If there was something there, they would have found it, right?

 

[stonedwal]

Yes, was diagnosed with Hodgkin's no more than two weeks after I finished high school. Been in remission for just over 3 years.

It sucks getting so sick when you're so young, but you also have the best chance of fighting it off. Keep positive and take care of yourself.

 

[mattx5]

Man, this has gotten me really worried. Sometimes I have strange pains and maladies, they come and go over time. I'm beginning to wonder whether there's something dormant inside me.

I really hope you get better soon, you'll be in my prayers.

 

[6.8]

I *almost* know how it feels, because I have an ulcerative colitis (risks of cancer increased). When I got my first ulcers, I was bleeding like hell, and I swore that I had colon cancer for about 4-5 months (until I was diagnozed otherwise). Not good time. I was dying with worry. I can't even imagine how it is to actually be diagnosed as such.

Be strong.

 

[Spike]

You're in my prayers, B'z. Hopefully it turns out that the form of cancer hasn't progressed past the treatable level.

 

[ohamsie]

I hope you get through this, you're one of my favorite posters here.

 

[AniHawk]

You're in my prayers as well B'z-chan.

 

[DrM]

oh my god, this sucks.

B'z-chan, good luck and don't give up!

 

[Incognito]

someone in my family also has GERD, and I worry about her health all the time.

i have it, and it sucks. corrective surgery worked for the first few years, but the problem is back, and there's only so much doctors can do. cold beers are the DEVIL!!

anyway, bz, get better.

 

[Pedigree Chum]

That was really depressing to read. Good luck man, I'll do a special dua (prayer) for you tomorrow.

 

[Spiritreaver]

Hey man, I'm really sorry to hear this as well. This may just be another bit of wishful thought like everyone else, as I know very little about cancer or anyone who's had to face it. I can't offer any suggestions at all as I think I would be in a standstill if I were you too. It's not something anyone wants to see anoyone else facing. I just wish you the best of luck man, whatever happens, always keep your head up if you can. But I know it's gotta be one of the toughest things someone can go through.

Be well, my thoughts and prayers go out to you.

 

[Jim Bowie]

My cousin was diagnosed with leukemia when he was 6. For 3 years he fought the disease and eventually overtook it. It was a long and arduous process, but today he's a-ok.

Moral: If he can do it, so can you, dude.

B-z, I hope you get better. Best of luck tomorrow.

 

[human5892]

Stating the obvious, I know, but: that really does suck, b-z. I wish you the best.

 

[Spainkiller]

Sorry to bring this up, but these posts are heart-wrenching. Take solace in the fact that people you don't know are thinking about you.

 

[Lord Error]

To hell man... I read this thread the other day, it made me so sad, and I didn't know what to say. On top of reading something so sad about you, it reminded me again that I lost a really good friend who had a liver cancer, and he was so damn young - only 22 years old. A thought of him always makes me freeze in the tracks, no matter what I'm doing, and makes me teary eyed. Then again, it also reminded me of another good friend who had leukemia but survived.

Couple of us were participating in this cancer walk thing some months ago, and it was serene and optimistic, and scary, all at the same time. Many people who have survived were there, and many candles were lit for people who have died.

Hang in there and be strong, you have to believe you will get through this. You are way too young for this shit...

 

[FnordChan]

Best of luck, man. For what it's worth, you've got all of GAF behind you.

FnordChan

 

[ConfusingJazz]

Kick its ass man, and be positive.

Good luck.

 

[Blacklion]

You are in my prayers

 

[SystemShark]

Yes, was diagnosed with Hodgkin's no more than two weeks after I finished high school. Been in remission for just over 3 years.

It sucks getting so sick when you're so young, but you also have the best chance of fighting it off. Keep positive and take care of yourself.

I too am a survivor of Hodgkin's Disease. Four years this November (20 when I was diagnosed). I also have a younger cousin who is also a survivor. It's definately not something I would wish on anyone, but if you have a strong support group and the will to see treatment through to the end, the experience is that much less terrible.

B'z-chan, as for how sick your going to get, it all depends. I gained 40 pounds during my treatment. I'm the exception to the rule, though, I guess. Depending on how many doses and how frequently you will be receiving the chemo really will give you an idea of how you're going to be effected.

Word of advise, sniffing coffee grounds is a great way to stave off the naseua of treatment. At least, that was the trick going around my ward anyways. I never did get physically ill (ie: puke) once during my sessions. Guess that kind of explains my weight gainage.

Good luck! If you have anymore questions I'd be more then happy to try to answer them. I agree with Gore though. The best resource is going to be your doctor.

 

[Loki]

I'm very sorry to hear about your condition; you'll be in my prayers. Keep us updated, and remember that we're all pulling for you.


Btw, I still remember your post about reuniting with your father-- it was one of the most touching things I had ever read, and it made me misty-eyed. You have a good heart-- you'll be fine regardless.

 

[B'z-chan]

Update I got to speak with some of the doctors that are gonna work with me on getting me though this. I found out that i have a rare form of stomach cancer that this one doctors seems to say is not fought easily. The cancer of the esophagus might be able to be cut out. Since its a tumor around the size of a quater. This one doctor sayed i'm at a stage 2 risk currently, which means if i understand this that its at a uncontrolable rate currently. But with meds and stuff they can kill it. I'm not a gonner yet. But they gave me the timeline of a 1-2 at least with current meds. But that means i would be on chemo for a majority of that time.

They are gonna run some tests on me this week and take blood and all that good stuff. They took blood today and shot me full of stuff. I've been sick ever sense. They put me on nitroglycern pills for my heart and some other meds that is suppost to help the rest of the body out while i go through chemo.

My first chemo session will be Oct 14th. and from then on out i will have 3-4 sessions a week. Till my one doctor feels comfortable enough that i have killed the cancer. I cant wait to sit down and go through chemo for 4 hours each session.

They are worried that its metastasized into my colon and even worse maybe my lymph nodes. Which means for me that i would have more than one type of cancer in my body. But they say they wont do those tests till a few weeks after i do chemo.

I'm amazed that my scaring from my operation has all but healed. It healed faster than some scabings i've had on my arms for a few months now.

But one bad thing is that i just ate a meal, been several days since i've had real food. And i already threw it up. I feel horrible, yet still energetic. I'm not looking forward to all this stuff. But i hope i can fight it.

The developers of Nexium are doing a test on cancer related from the stomach and esophagus and asked if i would like to be part of the study. I dont know how comfortable i feel about them using me as a guinea pig but i have some confidence knowing that they have had years of research with this kind of stuff. I dont know but its a option for me. I would have to go to LA a few times a month (all payed by them of course) and a few times to a couple of other places around the country. They even say they'll give me a payed vacation every three months to the place that i wish. At least while i'm part of the 3 year study.