I am still dreaming big!

I am the four percent!Only four percent of stage 4 stomach cancer patients survive five years after diagnosis. It has now been five and a half years since I was told that I had stage 4 incurable stomach (gastric) cancer.At the time of my diagnosis I was 40, the mother of three young children, married to a physician and a practicing attorney with my own firm. I was healthy, ate salad and broccoli every day, didn't smoke or drink, exercised, took my vitamins and had no family history of cancer. I had no risk factors for stomach cancer at all. Suddenly, I was told that I only had a few weeks to live. My 3-year-old daughter would not remember me. My 10-year-old twins would go through their teenage years without a mother. However, I repeated a line from my favorite Dylan Thomas poem that "I will not go gently into that good night," and I began the fight of my life. I immediately underwent very harsh chemotherapy treatments and spent years in bed, hospitals and doctors' offices.Soon after I started my chemo, I began speaking with other stomach cancer patients because I refused to be just another statistic, and work needed to be done to raise awareness, fund research and support patients, families and caregivers. I started activities to raise funds for stomach cancer research; then it became apparent that there was a great need for resources for patients, families and caregivers all over the world. This was the beginning of Debbie's Dream Foundation: Curing Stomach Cancer which was the first organization dedicated to helping stomach cancer patients, raising money for research and educating the public about stomach cancer.Just to put this disease in perspective, stomach cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in men and fourth among women worldwide. Each year nearly 930,000 people worldwide are diagnosed with stomach cancer, and approximately 700,000 die of the disease. Approximately 22,000 Americans will be diagnosed with stomach cancer each year, and over 10,000 will die within a year. According to the American Cancer Society, the overall 5-year survival rate for people with stomach cancer in the United States is about 28 percent, and the 5-year survival rate for stage 4 stomach cancer is 4 percent. Per cancer death, stomach cancer receives the least amount of federal funding of any cancer.In parts of Asia where gastric cancer is highly prevalent, aggressive screening programs have had some success in detecting stomach cancer early and thereby improving the outcomes; but in the United States there are no effective screening methods and no established programs for prevention or early detection. In addition, the symptoms of stomach cancer are not specific and are common to many gastric problems such as ulcers and gastritis. They include abdominal discomfort, indigestion, loss of appetite, occasional vomiting and a feeling of fullness after eating small amounts of food.Awareness of gastric cancer, its symptoms and risk factors remains low despite the fact that it is one of the deadliest cancers and the number two cancer killer in the world. Physician and public awareness are critical for early diagnosis. If people are aware of the risk factors and symptoms, they can be diagnosed at an early stage, dramatically increasing the chance for a cure. Two precursors to stomach and esophageal cancers are H. pylori and acid reflux, so be on the lookout. Bottom line: If you are having any type of gastrointestinal symptoms go see your physician for evaluation.As part of our efforts at Debbie's Dream Foundation: Curing Stomach Cancer, we are celebrating November as Curing Stomach Cancer Month. There are many awareness months in the United States; however, we are taking our efforts and message one step further because most Americans are diagnosed in late stages, so awareness isn't always the answer. We are emphasizing that curing stomach cancer is the end goal for patients, and therefore we have many activities planned for November to help and support patients but to also look toward a brighter future when a cure is found for stomach cancer.So, how am I doing now? Most days are great except, in order to keep my cancer at bay, I still have Herceptin infusions in the hospital every three weeks, take the oral chemotherapy drug Tykerb nightly, have regular doctor visits and undergo lots of scans and tests. I have a steadfast healthcare team and unwavering support from friends and family. They are with me in my journey to make a difference.I am beating the odds and determined to continue doing that. My pursuit is to make the cure for stomach cancer a reality for everyone; it's my dream, my personal mission and my legacy. All people should have the right to early detection, intervention and reliable treatment and to hope for a cure for their disease. Our health routine should include endoscopy exams and other screening techniques, increased resources, proven treatments and eventually the resources to find a cure. No one should have to fight this disease alone or without appropriate options. We at Debbie's Dream Foundation: Curing Stomach Cancer are making sure of that!To join me in making the dream for stomach cancer a reality, take part in our Curing Stomach Cancer Month events.Debbie Zelman is a Stage IV stomach cancer survivor and founder of Debbie's Dream Foundation: Curing Stomach Cancer (DDF), a non-profit organization dedicated to raising awareness about stomach cancer, advancing funding for research and providing education and support internationally to patients, families and caregivers. DDF seeks as its ultimate goal to make the cure for stomach cancer a reality. If you or someone you know is battling stomach cancer, you can find more information at DebbiesDream.org or by calling toll-free at 855-475-1200 or email to Info@DebbiesDream.org.