From a Suspected Gallbladder Issue to a Stage 4 Gastric Cancer Diagnosis

Terri’s diagnosis journey began with a hunch. While working at an elementary school, she described symptoms to the school nurse, who recommended she see her local doctor. What was initially suspected to be a gallbladder issue turned out to be Stage 4 gastric cancer. An ultrasound that ran longer than expected, followed by lab work, pointed to a different diagnosis, one her local doctor confirmed was not related to her gallbladder at all.

Life as a Caregiver, Even While Facing Her Own Diagnosis

Even while navigating her own diagnosis, Terri continued serving as a caregiver for her family. She helps get her 5-year-old granddaughter off to school two mornings a week to support her son, whose work schedule as a nurse doesn’t always align with his daughter’s. She also regularly travels to check on her 87-year-old mother, who lives two hours away, and stays connected with her daughter, a teacher living in Northwest Arkansas.

Finding the Right Care Team

After an upper endoscopy (known as an EGD) and further testing locally, Terri’s local oncologist was direct with her about her options. Rather than proceed with standard chemotherapy locally, he encouraged her to seek care at MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston. “I think they can treat you much better than I can,” he told her. An EGD confirmed her diagnosis, and biomarker testing opened the door to a clinical trial.

Terri credits MD Anderson’s team-based approach as one of the most meaningful parts of her care. “I cannot say enough good things about that,” she said, describing the experience of having a full team working on her behalf throughout the trial. She also pushed back on the hesitancy many patients feel toward clinical trials. Given her relatively young age and limited local treatment options at a Stage 4 diagnosis, she said the decision felt clear. “Do the trial, take the chance,” she said.

What She Wishes She’d Known

Looking back, Terri said much of what she experienced during treatment was manageable, but she wishes she had known more practical strategies going in, particularly around controlling side effects like diarrhea through medication, and simple preparation tips like keeping Gatorade on hand. Much of that knowledge, she said, only comes once a patient is already in the middle of treatment.

She also credits her mindset, and the approach her doctors took, with shaping how she moved through her diagnosis. A local doctor and friend once told her, “You’re about to be in for the battle of your life. Dig in your boot heels and pull up the straps.” Terri said neither her Houston physicians nor her local doctor ever gave her a specific time frame or prognosis tied to her Stage 4 diagnosis, something she believes shaped how she was able to view her situation. “I want reality, but I don’t want a doomsday,” she said.

Continuing to Share Her Story

Terri has since spoken publicly about her experience, including a talk connected to a pharmaceutical company’s sales team, as well as presentations to local women’s groups and cancer volunteer organizations. She says she doesn’t mind continuing to share her story, even after years of telling it. “People may get sick of hearing it after a while,” she said, but for her, sharing her experience remains something she values.