Understanding Stomach Cancer
- Hallmark actor Brennan Elliott has shared the heartbreaking news that his "fearless" wife Cami has been diagnosed with stage 4 stomach cancer.
- Stomach cancer occurs when an abnormal growth of cells begins in the stomach and becomes cancerous.
- Treatment options for this disease include surgery, medications, radiation and chemotherapy. Brennan Elliott's wife Cami has undergone both surgery and chemotherapy to treat her cancer.
"Those closest to me know that my Wife Cami has had several bouts with cancer in the past but now she embarks on a new journey as a Stage IV metastatic gastric cancer patient," he wrote in a recent Instagram post. "There is no one I consider braver, stronger, more Fearless even when you're Faced with a sinister opponent who never plays fair."
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Brennan Elliott, 47, and Cami Elliott, who is in her 30s, have been married since 2011 and share two children together, a boy and a girl.
Understanding Stomach Cancer
Stomach cancer occurs when an abnormal growth of cells begins in the stomach and becomes cancerous.
Treatment options for this disease include surgery, medications, radiation and chemotherapy. Brennan Elliott's wife Cami has undergone both surgery and chemotherapy to treat her cancer.
According to the American Cancer Society, there will be about 26,380 new cases of stomach cancer diagnosed in the United States this year (15,900 in men and 10,480 in women).
Stomach cancer typically affects older people, with the average age of diagnosis being 68. About six of every 10 people diagnosed with stomach cancer each year are 65 or older. This, however, isn't the case for Cami as she's only in her 30s. And her cancer is stage 4, also known as metastatic, which means it's spread to other parts of her body.
Symptoms of this disease include:
- Difficulty swallowing
- Feeling bloated after eating
- Feeling full after eating small amounts of food
- Heartburn
- Indigestion
- Nausea
- Stomach pain
- Unintentional weight loss
- Vomiting
When the One You Love is Sick
It's incredibly important for cancer patients to have a strong support system when going through what is most likely one of the hardest times of their lives, and just being there can do wonders. This is something Cami can attest to when it comes to the support of her husband, Brennan Elliott.
Jill Kargman on Relationships and Cancer
Illness, including cancer, is also an experience that can surely take an emotional toll on both the patient and the spouse, as well as their relationship.
This is something actress and melanoma survivor Jill Kargman can attest to as cancer was a true test of her relationship's strength. In a previous interview with SurvivorNet, Kargman said the disease "is a great way to find out if you're with the love of your life or a shithead."
"I think it presses the fast-forward button on getting to the bottom of that answer, because a lot of people in middle age are kind of at a crossroads, waiting for their kids to fly the coop," Kargman said. "I think if you're with someone who is not supportive and kind of emotionally checked out or doesn't tell you you're still beautiful with that, this might not be your person."
Contributing: Anne McCarthy
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