Lauren Donithan: Stage 4 Diagnosis Leads to a Gastrectomy

[@joanhenschel112]

Thank you for sharing your story. I was diagnosed as stage 4 with colon and peritoneum Mets in July 2022. I’m fighting this horrible disease. I had no GI symptoms, but developed blood on my stool one day that took me to the ER. I e been on Folfox every 2 weeks since Sept 2022. I’m exhausted physically. I had a HIPEC in September at Mayo, and having another one in January. All we can do is hope time will be on our side. There are things coming down the pike, we just gotta hang in there. Many blessings to you! Happy thanksgiving!!!

[@GuyMasse-z7t]

Thank you for sharing your experience I was stage 3 then in remission for one year then stage 4 I’m now in remission again over one year! It has been 6 years since the first diagnostic. Stage 4 cancer can be cured Keep fighting 😉

[@BrittanyDefenderfer]

🎉 Congratulations!! Wish you all the best for continued health.

[@marilyntonelli8832]

Agreed!

[@antonettewatson4172]

What treatment did you receive?

[@GuyMasse-z7t]

When the stage 4 started, we went back to the initial treatment Folfox. The first time I had a full response but not this time. We add Keytruda but after 6 months, they was no response either. Then we did radiation to reduce the main tumors to gain some time. New tumors came out, more radiation and then the Kaytruda started to work. After 6 months, no more tumors and I was clear for over a year.. I have been on Keytruda for more than 3 years, we took a chance and stop for 4 months. CT DNA came back positive at 0.8 % (very small) but I'm back on Keytruda. We will tested again in a few months. I guess, I'm not sure it can be cure but I keep trying.

[@archangel1527]

This diagnosis is often overlooked when people are young and passed off as GI issues. Sadly, by the time symptoms do appear, it’s often at stage 4. God bless you. You’re in my prayers.

[@K9sf]

God Bless you! Thank you for sharing your life experience and documenting it on video.

[@BrittanyDefenderfer]

You are a miracle! Health is raining down on you! Love you!

[@laurendonithan2706]

God is so good and I know He can use my story and all the others this month to shed a light on this horrible disease!

[@HopeForStomachCancer]

You are so incredibly brave! Thank you for spending time with us.

[@Tindaree]

Love and prayers🥰💜😘

[@mjblue84]

The big question is: WHY are so many young adults getting stage 4 cancers???

[@cynthiavega2811]

How is gastrectomy an option for only some with stage 4 stomach cancer?

[@brendaprice2951]

So many people with stage 4 cancer

[@harper_anne2089]

My sister passed away July 3. She had gone to Urgent Care 2 weeks prior for stomach bloating, constipation and low back pain. They sent her to St Johns Hospital. They kept her for 4 days and said they didn't find anything and sent her home. She passed away in her bathtub 2 weeks later(husband found her), she didn't drown, had cardica arrest. She was on life support for 3 days until they could determine whether or not she had brain activity. They found stage 4 stomach cancer, as her stomach had bloated up the size of a basket ball and she was tiny. There was no brain activity, and she was taken off of life support. She never even took one pain medication. My heart is broken in a million pieces. None of it makes sense and it never will.

[@HopeForStomachCancer]

Support the Stomach Cancer Prevention and Early Detection Act! Take action today at GastricCancerAdvocacy.org by emailing Congress now. Help us end stomach cancer!

[@funfacts-t5c]

how are you now madam

[@giaica816]

I read a stomach cancer survivor stage 4, now NED, that cured her stage 4 cancer in Japan with a new treatment. She went to the best hospitals in the US and they told her she was incurable so she decided to look for an oncologist in Japan and there she found her cure.

[@rosannatenuta5479]

I wish I would have seen this earlier. I lost my husband to stage 4 stomach cancer 7 weeks ago 💔💔💔

[@simast4975]

what was the new treatment? can you share more ?

[@shaymahassan-s2x]

Please can you share more details?