I was very unhappy being tethered to a feeding tube. But, it was necessary. During the 3+months I was on a feeding tube I made several efforts to eat pieces of toast and suffered terrible pains in the back of my shoulder. These were diagnosed as referred pain. The first few times the tube detached from my abdomen I went to the ER where it was reinserted. After those occurrences I just shoved it back in myself. The tube did not cause physical pain, just mental anguish. After 3+ months I began eating simple solid food and progressed fairly quickly to regular food. I wasn't a healthy eater before cancer and I remain fond of not so healthy foods now. In other words, I eat what I like when I want to. (Mayo Clinic cafeterias are great in that they offer a good selection of interesting foods.)

I don't remember any issues regarding removal of feeding tube but my memory may be inaccurate since I would have accepted any issues just to be rid of the tube.

About my journey: I was diagnosed (incorrectly) by a Chandler gastroenterologist with a benign tumor in 2007. My internist urged me to have it removed but I took no action until I was in NYC in early 2008 when I suffered a gall bladder infection. The doctors in NY recommended surgery to remove my gall bladder and I agreed. During the surgery they determined that my "benign" tumor was cancerous--leiomyosarcoma. During this surgery I lost my spleen, one adrenal gland, part of my pancreas as well as the tumor. Surgeon left my gall bladder intact since that was the least of my problems.

I left NY Presbyterian Hospital after 10 days. A NY radiologist recommended radiation. Chemo was not suggested. I waited until I returned home (Chandler, AZ) to start radiation. After a consultation with a Mayo radiologist I agreed to delay radiation until the cancer recurred. It didn't so I never underwent any therapies following that surgery.

By the middle of July I resumed a basically normal life. I went to Disneyworld where I road all the roller coasters (I was the only adult willing to accompany younger folks on these rides). I started playing tennis again. I started quarterly CT scans.

In November of 2008 I was well enough to drive from Chandler, AZ to Denver. I stopped for the night in Albuquerque and that evening I began to suffer severe stomach pains which led to a 911 call and surgery to remove my gall bladder. I did not make it to Denver. My daughter met me in Albuquerque and drove me home to Chandler.

All things are relative and this surgery relative to my earlier surgery was no big deal.

For many years I suffered from gastric reflux and periodically had endosopies. During a routine endoscopy at the Mayo Clinic in Phoenix/Scottsdale in October 2010 I was diagnosed with early stomach cancer and almost immediately had a total gastrectomy. Following surgery I underwent radiation and chemo therapies. This was very debilitating. I suffered typical side-affects--loss of hair, skin problems, mental weariness, and industrial fatigue. I needed to lie down and rest after brushing my teeth. I also developed pulmonary emboli at the end of these therapies. A day at a time I recovered and in time returned to a normal diet. There were some severe digestive problems. Align probiotics took care of some and time the others.

I play tennis two to three times a week. I travel to Denver and NYC 7-8 times a year. I do CT scans yearly and as always they cause some anxiousness for a few days.

I was very, very fortunate. The body has an amazing ability to recover from traumas of the sort I suffered. I simply followed the directions of the Mayo doctors who treated me. I don't think of myself as being a very smart patient--I still don't know exactly where my retroperitinium is--that's where my leiomycsarcoma was. The smart, kind, caring doctors and staff at Mayo made my journey easier than would have been possible anywhere else. For that and the gift of survival I am very grateful. I will be 80 in October.