Passionate Advocate Diagnosed at 32: Jason Diaz
HTML-код
- Опубликовано: 1 дек 2022
- Jason Diaz received his gastric cancer diagnosis after years of troubling stomach and digestion problems that doctors initially identified as GERD. This is his story of hope.
Early Stomach Problems & Gastric Cancer Diagnosis
I was diagnosed in 2018 at the age of 32. It took years of enduring stomach pain while trying to get answers from doctors to get to this point. My symptoms first started in 2015 when my heart seemed to be acting erratically. I met with a doctor, who identified that I had a slow heartbeat, but didn’t find anything beyond that.
In 2016, I had debilitating heartburn. I loaded up on antacids and tried my best to live a normal life, but the pain interfered with my ability to function. At work one day, I was in immense pain - I collapsed and my esophagus burned as if it was on fire. My wife showed up and we went straight to the ER.
Getting a GERD Diagnosis
At the ER, the doctor quickly looked me over. “Does this hurt?” he asked as he pushed hard on my sternum. Of course, it was painful. When I said as much, he told me that I had GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease). He gave me a medication and sent me on my way.
The meds helped, but they didn’t fully relieve the pain. And within a year, they were gone, and the pain came back more fiercely than ever. At this point, I made an appointment with my GP and spent a lot of time researching my condition. I was convinced that I had colon or gastric cancer, and I went into my appointment prepared to present my findings to the doctor.
A Lie That Saved My Life
The GP was skeptical of my self-diagnosis. Given that I was young and generally in good health, he figured that I had H.pylori or that the GERD was just acting up again.
Lying is against my nature, but in the moment, I did what I had to do. I told the doctor that I had black, tarry stool - a telltale cancer sign. I absolutely had to get a referral to a GI, and this seemed like my best shot.
Thankfully, I was able to schedule an appointment with a specialist to receive a consultation and endoscopy. Even the specialist wasn’t suspecting to find anything. As they put me under before the endoscopy, he said that he’d give me a call in a few days once my results were ready.
After the Endoscopy
To my surprise, the doctor was sitting right next to me when I woke up. The scan had turned up something concerning. Finally, I felt justified in what I was feeling - you know when something isn’t right inside of your body.
A few days later, I went to my GP’s office, and he confirmed that I had gastric cancer. However, he could only see what was inside of my stomach - we still needed a CT scan to learn more about my condition. I began scheduling treatments at my local clinic, but I wasn’t comfortable with what I discovered. Their treatment protocols seemed out of date, and they weren’t very familiar with my diagnosis. So, I turned to City of Hope, a premiere treatment center for gastric cancer.
My Gastric Cancer Treatment Plan
I did a lot of research and planning prior to starting my treatments. Ultimately, I felt I’d have the best shot by joining a clinical trial. I had four rounds of FLOT, a gastrectomy, and then another four rounds of FLOT after surgery. I also had immunotherapy (Keytruda) before and after. I was happy to participate in a trial that could benefit me as well as others through ongoing research.
Advice & Hope
I’ve had a lot on my mind since getting my gastric cancer diagnosis. Sadly, I’ve had some regrets, and there are relationships in my life that I want to mend. However, I have a lot to be thankful for as well - I have a lovely wife and a young son who always keep me going.
It’s important to advocate for yourself and remain aware of the latest treatments and procedures. Your doctors may know a lot, but at the end of the day, it’s up to you to push for the help you need.
Amazing real life story
This is proof that doctors need to really start listening to their patients as the amount of people i see on here that have visited doctors sometimes over years before being taken seriously and then getting diagnosed quite often with latter stages of cancer.
People really need to advocate for themselves like Jason has to get diagnosed as quickly as possible.
Thank you Jason for being a pioneer for the treatment of gastric cancer. Early diagnosis and the proper treatment is key.
I wish you a long, happy life. God bless you and your health.
Stay strong Jason, you have so many beautiful things in your life! You'll beat this!
You are so brave.
This is unfortunately how doctors see things. Patients sometimes have to prove our selves to get diagnosed. Unfortunately my first and second cancer were diagnosed the same way. My almost cancer was diagnosed the same way. I say almost because if my gallbladder would have burst it would have been a high grade cancer. I was so sick but the surgeon I first saw didn't want to take it out and put me on an insane diet. Then called me drug seeking turns out my gallbladder was impacted with cancers tumors. Last year my was pretty sick already went to the er and the dr "examined " me and said we are only going to treat you for the pain. I thought a cyst burst. I asked for a ct or ultrasound i was denied. I had uterine cancer and didn't know it I just assumed my ovarian cancer came back.
I also work in oncology. My clinic is full of patients that had to fight to get diagnosed. Its pretty sick that Dr won't help you any more
Now I'm going through exactly the same "copy and paste" situation. I'm soooo angry to a doctor who lead me to a 3rd stage when he could find it out in early stage. I can't stop crying. This doctor stole my life.
😢
At 68, my dad died of stomach cancer after complaining of stomach issues for over a year. The drs told him it was stomach ulcers till they finally did an endoscopy. It was too advanced and he died within 6 mos. though they tried chemo. I wish we had taken him elsewhere. They just basically let him die.
😢
This man literally had to diagnose himself after being misdiagnosed multiple times by medical doctors over a period of years. Wow, sad commentary on the quality of our health care professionals.
Incredible story❤
When I had pain in my stomach I went straight to a GI specialist.
Not sure why the docs never had a endoscopy from the jump. Lack of understanding from the medical community.
Hey Jason did you loose your appetite or weight?
Unfortunately my uncle died of stomach cancer in 1986. He was 54 years old. My father told me my uncle had been in a bad car accident that had impacted the area around the stomach. My father felt something would impact the area around the stomach in the future. That happened 30 years later.
What behaviors do you had/have that affect your stomach. Do you think it was genetics, do you worry a lot, or environmental factors?
That's interesting because my brother had his surf board hit him in the head and years later in the same exact spot he ended up with Glioblastoma and died at age 52.
I'm a stomach cancer bowel cancer survivor called gastrointestinal stromal tumor. Gist
Your a true valued cancer survivor
So all you had was lots of pain, no blood in stool?
Are you cancer free now?