GASTROENTEROLOGY COMMUNITY
appendix cancer- can anybody help us anymore?

appendix cancer- can anybody help us anymore?

Hi, my mom was diagnosed with appendix cancer (Appendiceal Carcinoma) 2 years ago. I am not sure if you know much about this rare type of cancer, but it is very agressive. Her type of tumors cannot be treated with radiation and b/c little is known about it, it is often treated the same as colon cancer. My mom was unable to qualify for the ONLY surgery that has been used to treat this cancer, b/c the surgeon said that there was too much cancer in her. About a month ago she was experiencing excruciating pain in her abdomen, and after a series of x-rays the doctors discovered that she had a blockage in her small intestine that was being caused by the cancer. B/c they cannot stop this tumor from wrapping itself around her intestines, they instead are draining her stomach fluids into a g-peg while also hooking her up to an IV so she can receive the proper nutrients directly into her bloodstream- nutrients she would normally get from food (but she cannot eat anymore). On top of this, her oncologist has just informed us that we cannot pursue anymore chemo b/c it will leave her worse off, and might kill her before the cancer does. So basically we have to watch our mom die. I checked out a lot of information on eastern remedies like herbs and vitamins, that can be given to her in liquid form (b/c she can still drink fluids), and I wanted to know if any of that sort of stuff would make much of a difference if her stomach fluids are just going to be drained anyways? The g-peg is located near the top of her stomach so SOME fluids are still going into her small intestine. Should we just give up, like the oncologists have, or do we still have some kind of an option that could help fight this cancer and possibly shrink her tumors?
Related Discussions
Avatar_f_tn
I would research different doctors all over US and get multiple opinions, I am an optimistic person and there is someone that has specialized in this. Good luck and keep your head up.
Blank
Have a Gastro question?
100,000+ doctor answers
Post a Comment
To
Comment
Post A Comment
Go
Blank
Gastro Tracker
Log symptoms & treatments
Start Tracking Now
Blank
Food Diary Tracker
What are you eating?
Start Tracking Now
MedHelp Health Answers
Submit
Top Digestive Answerers
Avatar_f_tn
Blank
patient915
CA
Avatar_n_tn
Blank
CalGal
Avatar_f_tn
Blank
mammo
Cincinnati, OH
168348_tn?1333651418
Blank
ChitChatNine
681148_tn?1285160820
Blank
FurballsMom
329165_tn?1330085073
Blank
Smiley2000
Australia
RSS Expert Activity
1741471_tn?1336957856
Blank
LIVE WEBINAR TOMORROW!-SUPER BODY, ... Blank
May 22 by Michael Gonzalez-WallaceBlank
2126606_tn?1335910182
Blank
Fibromyalgia Awareness
May 11 by Clare Waismann Kavin, RASBlank
2126606_tn?1335910182
Blank
Opioid-induced hyperalgesia reduces...
May 03 by Clare Waismann Kavin, RASBlank