Lauren Donithan: Stage 4 Diagnosis Leads to a Gastrectomy
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- Опубликовано: 18 ноя 2023
- Lauren Donithan is a wife and mother of two young boys. She works as a registered dietitian, and received her diagnosis of stage adenocarcinoma at the age of 36.
Lauren decided to see a doctor after experiencing symptoms that included pain, cramping, and bloating. Doctors told her it could be stress or aging. She also had reflux symptoms, so she tried to avoid foods that might trigger it. However, that didn't help, so she met with another doctor. This provider recommended over-the-counter medications to control reflux. Those didn't work, and Lauren's symptoms continued to worsen.
A different doctor ordered a barium swallow, which revealed an ulcer. Lauren took medications for the ulcer, but eventually, her symptoms got so bad that she couldn't keep food down. The urgent care physician ordered a bunch of tests and scans. She was referred to the ER, and after that visit, they told her she had constipation and sent her on her way with stool softeners.
Lauren got a call from the local GI office to schedule an EGD. On May 1st, they told her she had signet cell ring adenocarcinoma. It was very frustrating to have doctors chalk her symptoms up to diet, age, and lifestyle. Lauren knew from that point forward that she needed to advocate for herself.
She ended up traveling to Denver for further testing and scans. She went into the appointment thinking she was stage 1, but after the diagnostic laparoscopy, Lauren learned she had stage 4 cancer due to spots in her peritoneum.
Lauren did four rounds of chemotherapy and then had a partial gastrectomy. She also had an ovary and several other affected spots removed. The surgery was long, but successful.
Lauren restarted chemo and had two rounds before deciding to take a break. Now, she shares her journey on Instagram in hopes of raising awareness. She emphasizes the importance of mental health while facing stomach cancer.
As a registered dietitian and loving mother of two, Lauren's story took many unexpected twists as she faced the challenges of misdiagnosis, intense symptoms, and a sudden transition from stage one to stage four. Her initial disbelief turned into a fierce determination to advocate for herself and thrive, despite her challenges.
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!!!
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.
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 😉
🎉 Congratulations!! Wish you all the best for continued health.
Agreed!
God Bless you! Thank you for sharing your life experience and documenting it on video.
You are a miracle! Health is raining down on you! Love you!
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!
You are so incredibly brave! Thank you for spending time with us.
The big question is: WHY are so many young adults getting stage 4 cancers???
Love and prayers🥰💜😘
So many people with stage 4 cancer
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.
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.
I wish I would have seen this earlier. I lost my husband to stage 4 stomach cancer 7 weeks ago 💔💔💔