Lucy Guerrero, 46, of Upland, California, has suffered a lifetime of loss from aggressive cancers.
The mother of four lost an older sister and brother to stomach cancer when she was young. In 2006, Guerrero’s older sister also developed stomach cancer and underwent genetic testing.
“When they detected the cancer, it was too late,” said Guerrero, who works for a nonprofit organization dedicated to mental health. “She also passed away in less than a year.”
But finally, in 2022, he changed his mind after his mother suddenly passed away. Guerrero realized that, if he was going to die, I didn’t want it to be a total surprise. for his children, just as the loss of his mother and siblings had shocked his family.
“I thought, ‘I’m going to die anyway, right? But I have to have everything in order and I have to live a life that I’m at peace with, so that if I die tomorrow, I’ll be okay,'” he recalled.
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Guerrero’s test result came back positive for the CDH1 gene mutation. She spent the next year absorbing the news and, with the help of a genetic counselor, considered her options.
A radical surgery
Some people with a mutation in the CDH1 gene opt for lifelong monitoring, which usually involves undergoing endoscopies and biopsies every six months to look for possible signs of stomach cancer.
For Guerrero, that seemed “too much to go through,” he said, so he asked if there were other options. The other option was to have his entire stomach removed. “I thought, ‘Can I live (without a stomach)? How am I going to eat?‘” he recalled.
More was learned about the procedure, called preventive gastrectomy, and what it would entail. After removing the stomach, surgeons connect the esophagus directly to the small intestine.
Guerrero ultimately underwent surgery in February 2023, and recovery was challenging. Guerrero spent a week in the hospital before being discharged with a feeding tube. “That was very difficult,” he said, adding that he was surprised he didn’t feel more hungry.
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He later developed a painful condition called “rapid gastric emptying syndrome”which forces her to go to the bathroom almost immediately after eating.
With the help of support groups on social media, Guerrero learned to adapt to life without a stomach. He had to adjust when to eat, how much to eat, and how to chew his food.
Rediscover yourself
Adjusting to her new life wasn’t just about the food, Guerrero says. His body had also been affected.
A year after surgery, Guerrero officially received the green light to return to the gym, and she was elated. “At that moment I was only thinking about my bones,” he said.
I had lost a lot of weight after surgery and wanted to start strength training to strengthen the health of his bones and muscles.
“I used to hate lifting weights. I used to hate lifting anything really heavy,” she said. “But now I felt so empowered.”
Throughout 2024, it became stronger. That winter, her son was participating in a charity 5K race called the Turkey Trot to raise money for the cross-country team. Guerrero decided to participate.
“I got on the treadmill and couldn’t run a mile,” he said and laughed. He continued training at home, but had resigned himself to walking during the race.
But when he got there and felt the energy of the crowd around him, everything changed. “We got to the starting line and I just started running,” he said. “My pace was so high I felt like I was going to have a heart attack at the second mile.”
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In the third mile, the course went up a big hill and Guerrero noticed everyone slowing down and walking. “I thought, ‘Oh, it’s not just me. People are walking, even those who look like real runners,'” he recalled.
He finished the race, had his heart checked, and returned the following year as well.
But that first Turkey Trot sparked a new love for running in her that has continued to grow. “It’s just the adrenaline of having everyone else there and feeling like everyone is cheering you on, which keeps you going,” Guerrero said.
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Nowadays, she regularly runs first thing in the morning with a group of other women. He is preparing to participate in the McCourt Foundation’s Conquer LA Challenge, which requires runners to complete the Santa Monica Classic 10K this month, the Rose Bowl Half Marathon in January 2027, and the 2027 Asics Los Angeles Marathon.
Food and sport
Proper nutrition can be a challenge for any runner. For Guerrero, running without a stomach also presents some unique obstacles. After a stomach removal, the body does not send the same hunger signals and thirst. Additionally, people are often limited to eating only one or two ounces of food at a time.
In Guerrero’s case, you should be careful with energy gels because some contain a lot of sugar, which can trigger your dumping syndrome. However, he does notice that they give him energy during a long run. So choose your gels carefully and try to plan running routes that pass near public bathrooms, just in case.
Since she can’t eat a lot of food in one sitting and is prone to acid reflux at night, carb loading is a little different for Guerrero. Instead of eating a lot of carbs the night before a big race, spread them out throughout the week leading up to the race. “I eat a lot of carbohydrates during the week and limit myself to foods like potatoes and rice,” she said.
Maintaining adequate hydration also requires a little more attention, since you can’t drink a lot of water with meals. You have alarms on your cell phone to remind you to drink water and electrolytes throughout the day.
After a long run, Guerrero stretches and drinks a protein shake, even if he doesn’t feel hungry. When she feels uncomfortable, like after a run, she is least hungry.
“I come home, take a bubble bath and eat as much as I can, then a few hours later I feel better,” she explained.
Running may require Guerrero a little more attention and effort, but it has changed the way she feels about her body and given her a new outlet to channel anxiety at a time when her life is in transition. Her youngest son is about to start his senior year of high school, and she is redefining her identity after spending so much time being a mom.
“These emotions about my children leaving home soon are really difficult.” for my mental health“, she noted. “So when I feel sad or lonely, or I feel like no one needs me, I go for a run and I think, ‘it’s okay, I’m fine.'”
She hopes to inspire others to find new ways to challenge and improve themselves as well. “If it is a challenge, it will change you”he declared.
